We had a great time at the the 2011 NIGA Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention.  Some of our favorite vendors on the tradeshow floor were those that readily reflected the ethic of tribal gaming -- improving the quality of life for tribal communities and their neighbors.

In our last post, we mentioned the sweet grass infused hotel bathroom amenities.  These are put out by Sister Sky, founded by sisters Marina TurningRobe and Monica Simeon of the Spokane Tribe.  When Monica's young son suffered from eczema, she was inspired by traditional herbal remedies to develop a lotion infused with yarrow and chamomile, now marketed as Kevin's Cure.

Corporate greeting cards from the Tribal Print Source also caught our eye.  With images inspired by nature and Native American art and legend, the cards feature stylized images of bear, bison, caribou, crane, deer, moose, and owls, just to name a few.  Tribal Print Source is a non-profit run by the Southern California Tribal Chairmen's Association.  All proceeds go to support job training programs in Native American communities.

The Sacred Power Corporation has a promotional flyer featuring a race car.  The Native American owned and operated company out of Albuquerque focuses on renewable energy, including solar and wind power.

We'd love to learn more about government and entrepreneurial ventures in tribal communities, especially those that have grown out of gaming operations, or are supported by gaming revenue.  Drop us a line!