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The ACES School

@acesschool.bsky.social
31 followers 75 following 125 posts

Educating people about the past, present, and future of Native nations and sharing practical steps toward sovereignty and prosperity in Indian Country.

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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Deb Echo-Hawk, founder of the Pawnee Seed Preservation Society, shares that returning to our traditional lands to farm and banking our Indigenous seeds, is a form of reconciliation. #2026IndigenousPeoplesSummit
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Justin Alexander, Omaha Nation, in the Native Governance Center’s Rebuilder Program, shares an app in development to provide transparency for tribal government and to empower informed citizens. #2026IndigenousPeoplesSummit
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Matthew Hecox, Deputy Secretary of Commerce, discusses the $1.4B economic impact of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation which provides thousands of jobs and pays millions in wages.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Chief Standing Bear, Prof. Crepelle, and AICC OK advisor Mike McBride talk about improving legal systems in Indian Country. “We’re working with people who are economically oppressed, “says Standing Bear. Providing equal access to justice requires social and political change.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Between sessions, Professor Crepelle signs a copy of Becoming Nations Again for another tribal judge.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Mike McBride reminds us that fairness is a best practice because it fosters trust, helps us build relationships, and ensures greater stability.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
This morning, we’re fortunate to have American Indian Chamber of Commerce Oklahoma advisor Mike McBride III explore evolving definitions and boundaries of Indian Country and how that has shaped tribal legal frameworks and economic development.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Good morning from the banks of the Arkansas River where we are about to kick off day 2 of Doing Business on Tribal Lands.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Tribes need good governance laws. Your procurement laws need to be clear, enforceable, and transparent. - Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, who just stepped down as principal chief to let the next generation lead the Osage Nation
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Why do I say “tribal nations” instead of “tribes?” I’m proud of my Osage ancestors that advocated for our rights and emphasized that we were& are the Osage Nation, capital “N.” - Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, who just stepped down as principal chief to let the next generation lead the Osage Nation
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Joe Austin describes the importance of tribal law and infrastructure to foster private sector development on the reservation. Creating navigable pathways means fewer obstacles and more opportunity.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Entrepreneurship changed my life. It helped me understand my own sovereignty as an individual and control my own destiny. It gave me freedom. We’ve got to find ways to help our people get there. - Jacob Keyes, Chair, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma; Founder, Skydance Brewing
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Our first session this morning is Adam Crepelle’s “Lies, Damn Lies, and Federal Indian Law,” in which he walks us through the long history of legal ethics and the longer history of international trade networks in what we now call the Americas.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Thank you to the women warriors of the Muscogee Nation for standing the colors. And to Nathan Hart for the welcome benediction.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Good morning from the Muscogee Nation where are we getting ready to kick off Doing Business on Tribal Lands, a workshop on navigating and streamlining tribal commercial law and other institutions important for fostering entrepreneurship.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Greetings, Tulsa! There are still seats left at Doing Business in Indian Country next week at River Spirit. Join us & hear from: Joe Austin Adam Crepelle Jacob Keyes Debbie Lindsey Mike McBride Geoffrey Standing Bear CLE credits available For details & to register: tribalcommlaw26.eventbrite.com
tribalcommlaw26.eventbrite.com
Doing Business on Tribal Lands: It's Not That Complicated
Learn practical tools on how to navigate tribal commercial law, sovereignty, governance, and doing business in Indian Country.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Can Native nations transform reservations from the most heavily regulated areas in the United States into islands of liberty? youtu.be/Gu0nBiEArkc?...
youtu.be
Becoming Nations Again | A Book Forum Featuring Adam Crepelle
YouTube video by Competitive Enterprise Institute
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
“For every problem, there’s a solution. You’ve just got to find it,” says Chief Standing Bear. After serving as Principal Chief of the Osage Nation for 12 years, Standing Bear is passing the torch to the next generation. “Our younger people are more than capable.” www.kosu.org/geoffrey-sta...
kosu.org
Outgoing Osage Nation leader reflects on 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' COVID and more
Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear reflected on his role in land acquisition, Killers of the Flower Moon and cultural preservation with KOSU last week.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Join us at River Spirit in July for Doing Business on Tribal Lands. - Learn how to navigate tribal commercial law - Connect with others doing business in Indian Country - Earn CLE credits
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Are you an entrepreneur, contractor, educator, researcher, policymaker, or attorney interested in economic development in Indian Country? Join us for this two-day workshop. www.eventbrite.com/e/doing-busi...
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
New, long-sought agreement recognizes hat the Southern Ute Tribe has “the expertise & the governance systems to manage our resources responsibly while advancing the well-being of our Tribal Members and safeguarding our land, water & culture.” lasvegassun.com/news/2026/ma...
lasvegassun.com
Southern Ute Indian Tribe Celebrates Historic Signing of Tribal Energy Resource Agreement
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
“Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation is extending its push into high-profile hospitality assets with a new agreement to acquire a landmark Southern California hotel, building on a series of recent investments outside gaming.”
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
We are redefining “what treatment looks like from an Indigenous lens.” We use “the land as a resource as part of treatment…. We also will be incorporating workforce development but it's all grounded in the mission to help heal our community.” tribalbusinessnews.com/sections/eco...
tribalbusinessnews.com
IN SERVICE | Emily Edenshaw leads Ketchikan Indian Community with focus on healing and workforce development
Emily Edenshaw, CEO of the Ketchikan Indian Community, is advancing culturally grounded health care and workforce development, shaped by her own experience with generational trauma and recovery.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Judge Blake, a proud member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, devoted his life’s work to strengthening tribal courts and supporting justice systems in Indian Country. mailchi.mp/naicja/in-me...
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Today, we’re wrapping up the workshop with our Adventures in Indian Country panel feat. Justice Drent, Prof. Crepelle, & Dr. Austin. There are many stories from Indian Country about lost potential. How can Native nations develop & retain talent, secure investment & foster Native entrepreneurship?
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Miller’s elements of private sector development: 1. Financial literacy 2. Human capital 3. Create entrepreneurs 4. Funding private biz 5. Tribal & federal Buy Indian acts 6. Legal infrastructure   7. Physical infrastructure  8. Human & financial capital investments   9. Social welfare orgs
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
“Poverty is not a cultural trait.” Prof. Miller reminds us that traditional Indigenous communities were prosperous and self-sustaining.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
“We do not have a song for defeat.” Good morning from the Cowlitz Nation. We are grateful to the Forever People for hosting us this week.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
WT* Does HR Have to Do With Making Money? Alejandra Mojado (Cherokee Nation) explores legal considerations in employment practices, workplace compliance, and personnel management that affect organizational stability and economic success.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Joe Austin’s session focuses on tribal code reform as an important first step toward private sector development in Indian Country. He takes us on the Byzantine journey of starting a business on the Navajo Nation. The costly, complicated process => fewer services for people who live on reservation.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Chief Justice Meredith Trent (Osage Nation) examines the role of tribal courts in economic development, variations among tribal courts, dispute resolution options, and best practices for a sound investment climate.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Is there hope for an ethical federal Indian law? Prof. Crepelle ends with a hopeful note. Some recent precedent, especially since Gorsuch joined SCOTUS, suggest a brighter future. “On the far end of the Trail of Tears was a promise.” - Justice Gorsuch, McGirt v. Oklahoma, 2020
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Teddy Roosevelt comes up a lot when discussing the questionable ethics underpinning federal Indian law. As POTUS he transferred millions of acres of land from tribal jurisdiction to the national forest system. He used the power vested in him by the Dawes Act to subdivide tribal communal lands.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Adam Crepelle (Houma Nation) explores the history of legal ethics, the evolution of federal Indian law, and whether it is ethical to uphold racist law and policy.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Good morning from the Cowlitz Nation where we are kicking off Reservation Capitalism, a two-day workshop exploring ways to restore sovereignty and prosperity to Native nations.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
“An amazing history lesson. I’ve loved every minute… Understanding where we came from… as we figure out how to structure our tax system… I’m soaking it up here & I’m going back to my community to say ‘here’s what I learned.’” - ACES Participant Next event is Thursday: RezCap.eventbrite.com
rezcap.eventbrite.com
Reservation Capitalism: Sovereignty and Prosperity
From question to answers: the legal foundations of economic development in Indian Country
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Stunning! We’ll be there later this week.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
This is a great profile by the Oregon State Bar of our esteemed colleague and friend, Prof. Bob Miller, who is as personable, funny, and kind as he is accomplished. www.osbar.org/bulletin/iss...
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
A new financing model is emerging in Indian Country. The “capital weave” connects Native lenders from different communities to develop infrastructure. The ripple effects of creating infrastructure foster economic development and sovereignty. Listen for more: www.buzzsprout.com/2352819/epis...
buzzsprout.com
The Flour Mill - Difference Makers
Large-scale economic development deals in Indian Country are typically financed through complex capital stacks — combining banks, tax credits and outside investors — with Native CDFIs often left out.That may be starting to change.In Episode 4 of D...
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Reposted by The ACES School
IndigenousEcon.org @indigenousecon.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Breaking promises to the Blackfeet & Chippewa Cree nations, USDA claims it’s because farming programs “involved discriminatory preferences based on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.” Tribal citizenship is a political classification, not a racial one. nativenewsonline.net/sovereignty/...
nativenewsonline.net
Tribes In Montana Lose Millions After USDA Kills Farm Grants
Montana-based awardees called the terminations ‘devastating’ — and based on a false presumption that tribal initiatives fall under Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
The key to unlocking Indian country’s potential is greater tribal autonomy. April 16-17 Join us at ilani on the Cowlitz reservation to meet the author and connect with others working to foster prosperity for Native nations. Earn CLE credits in OR & WA RezCap.eventbrite.com
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
How do legal institutions shape economic opportunity in Indian Country? Join leading scholars, tribal judges, and practitioners for a two-day CLE program exploring how tribal law, governance, and justice systems influence economic development on reservations. rezcap.eventbrite.com
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Reservation Capitalism April 16-17 at the ilani Ridgefield, WA Join us to meet the authors, earn CLE credits, and connect with others doing business in Indian Country. Register today at RezCap.eventbrite.com
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
How do legal institutions shape economic opportunity in Indian Country? Join us next month on the Cowlitz Indian Reservation in for a two-day program exploring discussing economic development on reservations. CLE credits are available for WA and OR. rezcap.eventbrite.com
rezcap.eventbrite.com
Reservation Capitalism: Sovereignty and Prosperity
From question to answers: the legal foundations of economic development in Indian Country
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
How do legal institutions shape economic opportunity in Indian Country? Join us April 16-17 at ilani Casino & Resort in Ridgefield, WA 9.5 CLE credits approved in OR 9.5 CLE credits pending in WA rezcap.eventbrite.com
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Tobin Beal, Citizen-Choctaw Nation, is the CTO of NISEYA. Beal has 25+ yrs of experience in IT, software development & executive leadership. He’ll share knowledge of transactional & logistics systems at Doing Business on Tribal Lands, March 18-19 at Royal River Casino in SD. Join us!
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
March 18-19, the ACES School and the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe present Doing Business on Tribal Lands
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Let us rise as one people, all nations & all generations & across every division that others have tried to place btwn us. Let’s build a movement that is bold, relentless & unstoppable. Let’s protect our sovereignty, not just for today, but for all time Mark Macarro open.substack.com/pub/marktrah...
open.substack.com
Honor the Treaties; invest in what works
Mark Macarro's State of Indian Nations 2026 at the National Conference of American Indians Winter Meeting in Washington
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Reposted by The ACES School
Rebecca Nagle @rebeccanagle.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Despite all the headlines about Denmark, Greenland is governed by Indigenous people. The population is 90% Inuit who have never stopped fighting for their sovereignty. Through a voter referendum, they took over their courts, natural resources, police and language in 2009.
grist.org
Greenland is a global model for Indigenous self-governance. Trump’s demands for the island threaten that.
Historians say underpinning Trump's talk of national security lies a longstanding pattern of American entitlement to Native land.
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The ACES School @acesschool.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Indian country commerce generates tens of billion$ annually and is a constant source of litigation. Adam Crepelle argues that revitalizing the Indian Commerce Clause would resolve jurisdictional chaos and foster better relations between tribes and states. northwesternlawreview.org/issues/apply...
northwesternlawreview.org
Applying the Indian Commerce Clause to Indian Commerce - Northwestern University Law Review
Indian country commerce generates tens of billions of dollars annually and is a constant source of litigation. These disputes typically revolve around jurisdictional conflicts: whether states, tribes,...
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