Congressional probe an attack on economic future

0 Comments | Indian Country Today (Lakota Times), March, 2005 | by Homer, Peter

Homer, Peter Indian Country Today (Lakota Times) 03-30-2005 On the surface, the recent attacks on Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) for receiving large no-bid federal contracts appears to be only directed at Native Alaskan 8(a) contracting. However, tribal federal contracting, in the lower 48, could be harmed if Congress decides to change the tribal 8(a) program that was created, in the first place, to remove institutional barriers to tribal economic development. This is not just about Indians: All minority 8(a) contracting could suffer if drastic changes are made to the 8(a) set-aside program.

Today we are witnessing increasing calls to end all types of affirmative action programs: minority 8(a) set-asides could be added to that doomed list. I hope our...