Native 8 (a): Part of a Federal Commitment to All Natives

The United State government has a special trust obligation to respect and honor all its indigenous people. This obligation includes that they [the United States government] assist with economic opportunities in exchange for hundreds of millions of acres of Native lands.

• The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) is one such example.
  
  
• Native participation within the Small Business Administration 8(a) Business Development Program, encourages Federal agencies to contract with Native Businesses because they have been designated, by Congress, as minority and disadvantaged entities.
  
  
• Economic development through the Native portion of the 8(a) program is a vital and successful tool that allows Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Native American Tribes to meet their many obligations to their communities.
  
  
• Participation by Native Businesses in the 8(a) program has helped Native communities develop their own business tools and become active participants in the U.S. economy – across all states.
  
• The Native 8(a) program is one step forward to improving the quality of life for Native Americans while providing jobs and valuable services for America.
  
  
• Native 8(a) is truly a hand up, not a hand out.