ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND CREDIT IN NATIVE COMMUNITIES

The Native Nations Institute’s report Access to Capital and Credit in Native Communities underscores how limited access to capital remains a central barrier to prosperity in Indian Country, and how solutions must be rooted in the voices and leadership of Native communities themselves. By combining rigorous data review with field-based perspectives, the research highlights the structural challenges and opportunities in building sustainable, Native-led financial systems. This aligns closely with Aspen CSG’s asset-based development approach: both emphasize that durable change in rural and Indigenous places requires empowering local leaders, building on existing strengths, and reimagining financial tools to advance self-determined community well-being.