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Native entrepreneurs and even some tribes see grocery stores as a double win: they help the local economy and provide healthier food options in places where they aren’t often available. The USDA finds many rural areas of Native America are food deserts—areas without grocery stores or farmers’ markets with fresh produce. We’ll hear from Native grocery store owners about what it takes to make to be profitable on their reservations.
Guests:
Germaine Simonson (Navajo) – owner and operator of Rocky Ridge Gas and Market
Joey VanAlstine (citizen of the Little Travers Bay Bands of Odawa Indians) – chairman of Ziibimijwang Inc.
Richard Driskell – director for retail operations for FireLake Discount Foods and the FireLake Express Grocery stores in Tecumseh and McLoud for the Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Break 1 Music: Indigenous Life (song) Fiji (artist) Indigenous Life (album)
Break 2 Music: Happy Sundance (song) Dallas Arcand (artist) Modern Day Warrior (album)
Probably SOONER rather than later, WE will hear complaints from the non-natives, that WE ARE TAKING BUSINESS AWAY FROM THEM. Just like the TOBACCO, they’ll try putting up all kinds of roadblocks to stop US. INSPECT THIS, INSPECT THAT, this doesn’t meet required standards, that doesn’t meet required standards. Just like the fishing industry, they fish out an area and if there are NATIVES nearby, then all the better to cast the blame on the NATIVES for over-fishing.
There are many Native owed products being sold already in the U.S. Unfortunately, yes, taxes will be paid in any way they can. We are resilient, and we will always be here!