Drawing from the North American context, Dr Begay’s oration titled
‘Indigenous Nation Re-Building Renaissance’, provided valuable insights
for his Australian audience on issues of Indigegnous leadership,
governance and resiliency. “After hundreds of years of control by
government, Native nations in the United States and Canada are currently
experiencing a political resurgence,” said Dr Begay.

“For Indigenous North Americans, it’s a wonderful time to be alive. I
never thought that in my lifetime I’d see a resugence of this magnitude
where Indigenous people and native nations are calling the shots. In
turn, wonderful things are happening.”

“That’s the story I bring to you. And it’s a good one.”

Essentially this story rides a wave spreading across the Indigenous
country of North America with the development of institutions and
capabilities for nation building – from the Mississippi Choctaws in the south and the central country of the Winnegagos of Nebraska to the Louden Tribal Council of Alaska, and throughout the length and breadth of Canada.

“In native nations, the per capita income is growing three times
faster than that of the nation generally,” said Dr Begay. “And this
income, derived from full employment and thriving manufacturing
industries, has virtually nothing to do with casinos or gambling. It
comes from public and private enterprises and industries, including law
enforcement, airlines, banks, health and energy foods, and sustainable
agriculture.”