Outsourcing to the Indians of SD

Unemployment is close to 80% and substance abuse is rampant, but the Oglala Lakota Sioux in the Badlands of SD are taking advantage of the globalization of information. They are on the cutting edge of a technological change, hoping to develop a niche that they can capitalize upon. If they are successful, it will mean that young people will no longer have to leave the reservation to find employment.

Lakota Express, a USA-Chinese joint venture, was set up on the reservation to verify the accuracy of electronic documents that are transcribed by Chinese workers who often can’t figure out American handwriting.

Reverse outsourcing is occurring on other Indian reservations like the Northern Ute and Cedar Band of Paiutes in Utah. The Navajo are working with Ford, Dell, Capital One and others to perfect a similar model.

When the Chinese saw the bison on the Lakota Sioux reservation, they immediately thought of exporting buffalo meat. If the 1.3 billion Chinese take a fancy to buffalo meat, we’ll have to worry about Lou Dobbs complaining about the buffalo becoming extinct.

I’m seeing an increasing spirit of entrepreneurism on Indian reservations. It is still small, but rapidly growing phenomenon that you’ll want to keep your eye on.