Tulalip Nation citizen Anthony Henry turned his passion for fishing into a successful business with the help of a Native CDFI named Pacific Northwest Tribal Lending, becoming the captain of his own commercial fishing boat and preserving Tribal fishing rights.

In 2008, the salon where Julie Painter worked at while she was a student in cosmetology school was about to shut down because the owner was leaving to work in education. Painter's options were to work at a different salon two hours away in Asheville, N.C. — or buy the Visage Salon where she worked and become a business owner.

"There were two options in front of me," Painter, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, said. "And I went with option two.”

Painter admits that she “was in a terrible place for starting a business” at the time. She had a low credit score and no experience running a business, but she was determined.

Then she met Russ Seagle and the Sequoyah Fund, Inc. Here's their story.

In Eagle Butte, S.D., on the Cheyenne River Lakota Reservation, tribal citizens can find high-quality traditional foods, such as bison and wild rice, at Wóyute Natural Foods & Apothecary.

For owner Donita Fischer (Cheyenne River Lakota), the business she launched in 2023 is a testament to food sovereignty and a commitment to her community.

“Access to healthy foods is really important to me,” Fischer said. “Watching my parents and grandparents succumb to different ailments because of the Western diet introduced to our areas made access to healthy foods a key issue for me.”

Like many Native Americans of their generation who didn't have access to their traditional diets, Fischer's grandparents and mother had diabetes.

“My mom never wanted any of us to get diabetes,” Fischer said. “This is all kind of like a legacy to her.”

Supported by Four Bands Community Fund, a certified Native CDFI, Wóyute is thriving in a business incubator that provides essential services and a low-risk environment for growth. Executive Director Lakota Vogel shares insights on the importance of creating physical spaces for small businesses in underserved markets.

Tune in to the Difference Makers 2.0 podcast to hear Donita Fischer and Lakota Vogel discuss their journey and vision for a sustainable, community-focused food economy.