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Breaking Ground in Design: MBDA Helps Support New Indigenous Projects

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, the U.S. Department of Commerce has recognized the extensive impact of Native American innovators, entrepreneurs, and minority business enterprises throughout the nation. As the only federal agency solely dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprises, Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) offers a number of tools, resources, and networks to support minority businesses and entrepreneurs through their network of Business Centers and projects.

One of these projects includes the Four Winds Diversified Project in the Southwest United States. With the assistance of MBDA, this project provides access to unlimited opportunities, access to capital, and access to resources and new markets for American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian and minority-owned businesses located on Southwest rural reservation lands and local community areas.  The services provided by the project were especially helpful to Tamara Begay, President of Indigenous Design Studio and Architecture (IDS+A).

Tamara is breaking new ground in the architecture industry. With only 17% of registered architects being women and 0% being Native American, IDS+A continues to thrive and is the only architecture firm in the world to employ 100% indigenous staff.

Promoting design that is not only a reflection, but a true representation of Native culture and community is a top priority to IDS+A. Their focus is on using a “Charrette process” throughout their planning process. This process is used to explore possible solutions for challenging issues in a community, institution, facility, or neighborhood in a short period of time. This collaboration also allows community groups to contribute to creating a place that is responsive to their individual needs.

Indigenous Design Studio +Architecture came to the Four Winds Diversified Project MBDA Business Center about two years ago. The MBDA team assisted their business in executing and pursing the Small Business Administration 8(a) Certification and Women-Owned Certification Program, which has helped Ms. Begay and her team by opening more opportunities for projects in the area and by providing Federal, State, Local and Tribal opportunities, and referrals.

“Being Navajo is being proud of where you come from and being proud of who you are,” said Tamara. That has really been instilled in me. I have a lot of strong females in my family. They always tell me, ‘Don’t ever forget where you came from.’ I’m going to stand up for who I am, and I am going to stand up for the rights of my family, myself, and my people. We should be heard just like anybody else.”

Because of MBDA’s assistance, IDS+A’s ground-breaking Indigenous projects are becoming a mainstay in the Southwest. Recent projects include the San Carlos Early Childhood Education Program Head Start Center, the Tse’bit’a’i’ Justice Center, and the Navajo Technical University.

At the Department of Commerce, we recognize that America’s diversity has always been our greatest strength. The Native American community is deeply rooted in the history of the United States and is an integral part of the rich fabric of our nation. True to our mission of creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity—for all Americans—MBDA and the Commerce Department work every day to support and invest in the Native American business community.

Learn more about MBDA programs at mbda.gov