TribalNet is an industry group that connects IT leaders, executives, and technology vendors at Native American tribes and tribal enterprises. Founded in 1999, the organization’s mission is Bringing Technology and Tribes Together.

AWS fully supports TribalNet and its mission. That’s why we were a Bronze sponsor at the 25th Annual TribalNet Conference & Tradeshow, held September 16-19 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The largest Indigenous small business event, the TribalNet conference is dedicated to Native American government, gaming, and health technology, focused on topics that are relevant nationally and locally. The conference’s main goal was to equip tribal leaders and IT professionals with the knowledge and strategies they need to navigate the complex landscape of technology adoption, while respecting and enhancing tribal values and traditions.

Through our sponsorship and presence at the conference, AWS demonstrated our commitment to helping tribal small business partners by providing cloud capabilities and experience, winning procurement strategies aligned with government goals, and assistance in moving quickly to provide solutions and value. During the conference, AWS hosted a joint reception with IT consulting partner Sterling, which attracted 100 attendees. During the reception, members from the Sterling team networked with AWS customers and employees on a broad assortment of future projects. Sterling was also represented at the AWS booth, leading a real-time demonstration of several AWS solutions. “We’re under no illusion that all tribal communities are the same; each, we know, contains its own unique government, tribal council, civic departments and public infrastructure, local policy requirements, and overall views on wider Federal legislation,” says Mark McCallister, a Pre-Sales Engineer at Sterling. “We’re here to help navigate that complex landscape of singularity—and to do so, always, with an eye toward data sovereignty. Our aim, together with AWS, is to bring innovation and peace of mind as it pertains to protecting our customers’ data. It’s our belief that those two pursuits are not, in fact, mutually exclusive.”

The challenges of adopting modern technologies

Native American tribes face unique challenges and opportunities as they seek to adopt modern technologies across the government, healthcare, and gaming sectors. To address this, the conference featured seven tracks: Tribal Gaming & Hospitality Technology, Cybersecurity, General Technology, Leadership & Management, Tribal Government Technology, Tribal Health Information Management, and AI’s Revolution.

Throughout the four-day event, some key topics and themes stood out among presenters and attendees. These included the following:

Data management and analytics

Several sessions focused on data management and analytics, instructing attendees how to:

  • Remove data silos and use artificial intelligence (AI) for value creation
  • Implement effective data governance and classification
  • Make sure of data sovereignty and security
  • Use data for decision-making and operational enhancements

AI

AI is arguably the hottest topic for organizations in all industries today. Conference goers learned how to:

  • Develop policies and governance for responsible AI use
  • Implement AI in various tribal sectors (government, gaming, and healthcare)
  • Prepare tribal data for AI integration
  • Explore AI tools and in-house development opportunities

Cybersecurity

The conference emphasized the importance of cybersecurity, with special sessions on security awareness programs, vulnerability management, and disaster recovery planning. Those in attendance discovered ways to:

  • Enhance security awareness programs
  • Build comprehensive vulnerability management programs
  • Develop effective disaster recovery and incident response plans
  • Implement healthcare-specific cybersecurity measures

Digital transformation

Digital transformation was another major focus at TribalNet, with discussions on emerging technologies for operational improvements, cashless/digital wallet systems in tribal enterprises, and digital citizen engagement. Discussions focused on how to:

  • Adopt emerging technologies for operational enhancements
  • Implement cashless/digital wallet systems in tribal enterprises
  • Drive digital citizen engagement
  • Modernize health information technology infrastructure

IT management and strategy

The conference also addressed IT management and strategy, covering ways to align IT vision with business needs, implement best practices for technology budgeting, and develop talent within IT departments. During these sessions, attendees explored ways to:

  • Align IT vision with business needs
  • Implement best practices for technology budgeting
  • Develop talent and skills within IT departments
  • Balance business value and government needs in tribal contexts

Cultural sensitivity, compliance, and collaboration

During the TribalNet conference, presenters consistently emphasized the importance of balancing business value with government needs in tribal contexts. Presenters also encouraged attendees to consider the following when adopting new technologies:

  • Cultural sensitivity. Make sure that technological implementations respect and enhance tribal values and traditions.
  • Regulatory compliance. Stay informed about and adhere to relevant regulations, especially in healthcare and gaming sectors.
  • Foster partnerships between IT departments and other tribal partners to drive innovation and efficiency.
  • Implement solutions that can grow and adapt to the changing needs of tribal partners and communities.
  • User experience. Prioritize user-friendly technologies that cater to diverse technical capabilities within the community.

How AWS is helping Tribal small business partners

AWS plays a critical role in supporting tribal small businesses and tribal governments by empowering them to build, market, and sell innovative cloud solutions. Through programs like the AWS Think Big for Small Business Program, Partner Transformation, and AWS competencies, AWS’ partner teams are lifting up Tribal, Alaska Native Corporation (ANC) and Native Hawaiian Organization (NHO) businesses to provide AWS Cloud capabilities and expertise, offering sophisticated procurement strategies that align seamlessly with government objectives and delivering rapid, value-driven solutions.

AWS is pioneering citizen-centric service design, focusing on creating seamless, convenient experiences for tribal government agencies that navigate complex policy landscapes, ultimately balancing operational efficiency with exceptional user experience and supporting the unique technological needs of diverse governmental entities.

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