How can we help?
Tribal Affairs
We understand the business, operations, values, and purpose that drive Native American, Indian, First Nation, and Alaska Native tribes and entities.
Indigenous-led. Values driven.
Our work, works.
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Land Protections
We have been on the ground working with Alaska Native entities for years, including defeating the country’s most controversial mining project consistently over a 10-year period, in a state where resource development projects never fail.
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Federal Appropriations
We helped the University of Hawaii and Oklahoma State University navigate the federal appropriations process, securing funding for the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity, which opened in 2022.
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Cannibis Regulations
We supported the establishment of a new recreational cannabis market in New Mexico including House Bill 12 The Cannabis Regulation Act, specifically including language to allow for tribal compacts.
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Educational Fee Waivers
We successfully advocated for fee waivers for Native Americans and their descendants when enrolling in Nevada colleges.
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State Recognition
We helped position the Nez Perce Tribe in Oregon to be included in consultation on legislation that impacts them. The Nez Perce Tribe is not recognized as an “Oregon Tribe” because their reservation is in Idaho, despite having historic ties to the lands in the state – making it harder to have a seat at the table in policy conversations in the state.
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Tribal Compacts
We supported passage of legislation Assembly Bill 375 in Nevada allowing for Tribal Compacts followed by the drafting and establishment of the first tribal compact and several subsequent compacts.
Project Highlights
Bristol Bay Native Corporation
More than a Corporation
Bristol Bay Native Corporation found, through multi-year research conducted by S360, that Alaska residents and their shareholders reported a lack of awareness of the role BBNC played in their lives and the state economy. We developed the “More than a Corporation’’ campaign which differentiates BBNC as driven by a commitment to serve their shareholders, protect their Native way of life, and safeguard their region. This fully integrated campaign operates as an “always on” strategy with flexibility to move with BBNC’s budget and the shifting political and media climate in Alaska. This approach has elevated BBNC’s brand awareness by two times in the three years since the brand campaign launched.
Cowlitz Tribe
No Cowlitz Left Behind
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the lack of a formal communications apparatus left Cowlitz Indian Tribal membership disconnected from the Tribal Administration. They needed a reliable and trustworthy method of sharing information so that members could access opportunities to engage with the tribe, as well as other tribal members. S360 developed a communications campaign named “No Cowlitz Left Behind.” We started with a podcast featuring Tribal leaders speaking about relevant news for the community, which was live streamed. The campaign was supported through an email and direct mail effort to a list developed and maintained by our tea. The communications infrastructure S360 helped advance is still used to support the Cowlitz Tribe to build and strengthen community.
Reno-Sparks Indian Colony
Developing Educational Fee Waivers
In Nevada, enrollment of Indigenous students in higher education programs has been extremely low often due to out of reach costs. Our team sought a permanent fix for this issue to advance access to educational opportunities for Nevada’s Indigenous students. Our government affairs experts started building connections early with legislators and candidates to promote a fee-waiver program to Nevada colleges and universities. We worked with advocacy groups and built a coalition to support these efforts, aligning the plan to be impactful for students and communities, while operational from state and educational entities. As legislation progressed, we launched a comprehensive public outreach campaign to accompany our lobbying efforts, all of which culminated in the passage of a permanent fee-waiver for Nevada Native college students to the state’s public colleges and universities.
