Author Archives: Kris Easton

Support for Native small businesses during COVID-19

Throughout the United States, COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted communities of color— including Indian Country. Closures of Native American small businesses, in keeping with social distancing guidelines, have led to serious economic challenges, not just for business owners, but for the communities they serve and represent as well. 

So to support these small businesses, Grow with Google and the National Congress of American Indians are partnering to help create economic opportunity in Native communities. The NCAI is the country’s oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization, with a mission to improve the quality of life for Native communities and peoples.

The signature piece of this partnership is the NCAI Indian Country Digital Trainers Program, which offers Grow with Google training for small businesses and job seekers in Native communities. People who attend these virtual workshops gain valuable digital skills, like how to create a Search-friendly website for their business, or how to analyze customer trends and use that data to make business decisions.

The NCAI Indian Country Digital Trainers are a cohort of eight tribal community members—Native librarians, educators, and technologists with impressive track records on workforce development. Each member of the cohort has been trained by Google to offer workshops virtually to folks in their local communities.

Penny Gage National Congress of American Indians Digital Trainer

Penny Gage, one of eight NCAI Indian Country Digital Trainers.

That includes Penny Gage in Anchorage, a member of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska and an economic development consultant who supports economic growth. Penny leads virtual workshops for small business owners in Alaska’s city center and remote communities across the state.

“Digital skills are a critical component of business survival during this time and this is about adding more tools to our toolbox,” she says. "We’re working with entrepreneurs, helping them connect with customers and work more efficiently, and offering advice.”

Engaging customers online is a new challenge for many, and Native small businesses across Indian Country are hungry for more information. On May 21, the National Congress of American Indians and Grow with Google will co-host a free national webinar called “Build Your Digital Skills and Online Presence.” This Grow with Google OnAir workshop will help attendees discover Google tools to manage their businesses during this time of uncertainty. In addition, participants will hear from tribal leaders and small business owners regarding the importance of Native business resiliency

After the webinar, attendees will have an opportunity to sign up for free one-on-one coaching sessions with an NCAI Indian Country Digital Trainer. During these first come, first served 30-minute sessions, attendees can get additional help on topics like G Suite, Ads and YouTube. It’s our aim to provide support for communities that are hard hit by COVID-19. We hope these free resources can be helpful as Native small business owners plan their next steps.

Celebrating Native American culture, past and present

As a member of the Cherokee Nation, I’ve always tried to stay connected to my heritage. It is important to me to reflect on our country’s Native history and culture and the lasting impact that the first North American peoples have had on our shared experience as Americans.

In my family, I’m the first generation to grow up completely off-reservation. Much of my early exposure to Native peoples and culture was through public education. Over the years, I’ve learned that Native history is more complicated than any single perspective can convey. And as a Googler, I’ve learned that access to information is key to understanding our world. That’s why this November, during Native American Heritage Month, we’re making it easier for teachers and students to learn about how modern-day Native communities live and think.

To celebrate Native culture and spread awareness about its richness and history, we’ve added several Google Expeditions that explore various aspects of Indian Country, allowing students all over the globe to learn about topics ranging from Southwest tribes to powwows to the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Through Expeditions, students can virtually visit Crow Fair, often referred to as “The Teepee Capital of the World,” where 1,500 teepees line the banks of the Little Bighorn River in Montana. Through this virtual visit, they can experience traditional tribal dancing, a horse parade and a rodeo -- all moments of celebration that help preserve Native American heritage.

Watch students experience the Native American traditions of Montana through Google Expeditions

Also, we’re releasing the first story on Native American culture on Google Arts & Culture, created in partnership with key institutions such as the U.S. Bureau of American Indian Affairs, Wyoming State Museum, and Pueblo Grande. From film to fashion, Native American culture has influenced all creative mediums -- and through this Google Arts & Culture exhibit, students can learn about the lives and works of six different Native American artists.

Today on Google.com, we are also celebrating award-winning Native author James Welch. Welch spent his life and career writing poetry and fiction that gave readers a better understanding of modern Native Americans. On the Google Play Store, we’ve curated a list of books for Native American Heritage Month, including James Welch’s 1986 fiction novel, Fools Crow.

[edu] james-welch-blog.jpg
Today, our US users can see this Doodle celebrating the work of Native author James Welch

We hope that by making this content available today, and by adding content like this in the future, we will make it easier for teachers and students to understand our shared heritage and modern-day Native communities. They say that past is prologue: That’s especially true of the Native cultures that continue to inspire and shape our lives in the present and for the future.  

Celebrating Native American culture, past and present

As a member of the Cherokee Nation, I’ve always tried to stay connected to my heritage. It is important to me to reflect on our country’s Native history and culture and the lasting impact that the first North American peoples have had on our shared experience as Americans.

In my family, I’m the first generation to grow up completely off-reservation. Much of my early exposure to Native peoples and culture was through public education. Over the years, I’ve learned that Native history is more complicated than any single perspective can convey. And as a Googler, I’ve learned that access to information is key to understanding our world. That’s why this November, during Native American Heritage Month, we’re making it easier for teachers and students to learn about how modern-day Native communities live and think.

To celebrate Native culture and spread awareness about its richness and history, we’ve added several Google Expeditions that explore various aspects of Indian Country, allowing students all over the globe to learn about topics ranging from Southwest tribes to powwows to the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Through Expeditions, students can virtually visit Crow Fair, often referred to as “The Teepee Capital of the World,” where 1,500 teepees line the banks of the Little Bighorn River in Montana. Through this virtual visit, they can experience traditional tribal dancing, a horse parade and a rodeo -- all moments of celebration that help preserve Native American heritage.

Watch students experience the Native American traditions of Montana through Google Expeditions

Also, we’re releasing the first story on Native American culture on Google Arts & Culture, created in partnership with key institutions such as the U.S. Bureau of American Indian Affairs, Wyoming State Museum, and Pueblo Grande. From film to fashion, Native American culture has influenced all creative mediums -- and through this Google Arts & Culture exhibit, students can learn about the lives and works of six different Native American artists.

Today on Google.com, we are also celebrating award-winning Native author James Welch. Welch spent his life and career writing poetry and fiction that gave readers a better understanding of modern Native Americans. On the Google Play Store, we’ve curated a list of books for Native American Heritage Month, including James Welch’s 1986 fiction novel, Fools Crow.

[edu] james-welch-blog.jpg
Today, our US users can see this Doodle celebrating the work of Native author James Welch

We hope that by making this content available today, and by adding content like this in the future, we will make it easier for teachers and students to understand our shared heritage and modern-day Native communities. They say that past is prologue: That’s especially true of the Native cultures that continue to inspire and shape our lives in the present and for the future.  

Source: Education