Outsourcing seen as boon to reservations – American Indians bring work to their lands

The Oglala Lakota Sioux were among the last tribes to battle the U.S. cavalry, and their vast Pine Ridge reservation was ground zero in the American Indian Movement’s 1970s clashes with federal agents.

But proud resistance to outsiders hasn’t been good for business. Here in the Badlands, economic opportunity has been as barren as the flora-thin hills. Unemployment is near
80 percent. Substance abuse is rampant.

Tradition-bound, the Lakota Sioux want to be close to family and resist leaving the reservation. Tribal and business leaders are hoping that in an increasingly globalized economy, where information-processing work can be done nearly anywhere, they won’t need to.

The tribal leaders’ bet: outsourcing. Their first big client: A Chinese-U.S. joint venture.

By CARSON WALKER Associated Press

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2005/07/24/business/biz02.txt