Insight in Indian Country

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to truly prepare a professional to work in Tribal finance and governance? For Lindsey Ray, Senior Tribal Programs Manager at Oklahoma State University, the answer started with a needs assessment, a gap in the market, and a partnership that grew into something much bigger than anyone expected. In this episode, REDW National Tribal Practice Leader Wes Benally sits...

Send us Fan Mail Cybersecurity isn't just an IT issue — it's a leadership issue. In this special session preview, REDW Principal and National Tribal Practice Leader Wes Benally sits down with REDW Principal John Graham, CISA, CISM, CISSP, CRISC, ahead of the NAFOA 44th Annual Spring Conference in Reno, Nevada. John offers Tribal leaders a new way to think about cyber risk — one rooted in...

Send us Fan Mail For 55 years, the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) has been a cornerstone of small business growth, federal procurement support, and economic advocacy across Indian Country — serving approximately 4,000 clients from Maine to Alaska. In this episode, REDW National Tribal Practice Leader Wes Benally sits down with Chris James, President and CEO of...

Send us Fan Mail What does it look like when a Tribally-owned enterprise deliberately goes off the reservation to generate economic returns for its Nation? Austin Tsosie, CEO of Diné Development Corporation (DDC) — the Navajo Nation's 8A federal contracting arm — joins host Wes Benally to answer exactly that. Over 21 years, DDC has grown from a council-inspired idea to a mid-tier federal IT p...

Send us Fan Mail In honor of Native American Heritage Month, REDW Principal and National Tribal Practice Leader Wes Benally sits down with Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear of the Osage Nation for a profound conversation about leadership, cultural respect, and the journey that shaped one of Indian Country's most experienced leaders. Chief Standing Bear, now in his third term as Osage Nat...

Send us Fan Mail Sage Memorial Hospital's journey from a four-room adobe building in 1911 to a state-of-the-art healthcare facility represents more than a century of serving the Ganado community. This episode, REDW National Tribal Practice Leader Wes Benally welcomes Melinda White, CEO of Sage Memorial Hospital, to discuss the hospital's remarkable transformation and its commitment to bl...

Send us Fan Mail Revenue cycle management isn't just a back-office operation—it's a strategic tool for strengthening care delivery in Tribal communities. This episode, REDW National Tribal Practice Leader Wes Benally sits down with Melissa C. Goad, CRCR, CPA, MBA, a healthcare finance veteran with 30 years of experience spanning both payer and provider perspectives. Melissa shares her tr...

Send us Fan Mail The 105(l) lease program has become one of the most transformative funding mechanisms available to Tribal Nations—but it's widely misunderstood. This episode, REDW National Tribal Practice Leader Wes Benally sits down with Geoff Strommer, partner at Hobbs Straus Dean Walker, to demystify this critical provision of the Indian Self-Determination Act. Despite the name, 105(l) &q...

Send us Fan Mail Employee voice is transforming HR practices across Indian Country, creating both opportunities and challenges for Tribal organizations. This episode, REDW National Tribal Practice Leader Wes Benally welcomes Taryn Reynolds, MSL, THRP II, and Jessica Goodfox, THRP, TMP, from REDW's Human Resource Consulting team to discuss the heightened focus on HR accountability, proper docu...

Send us Fan Mail John James, CEO of Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise (Navajo Gaming), joins Wes Benally this episode to discuss the evolution of tribal gaming. They discuss the importance of customer experience and the role of innovation in the industry. John shares insights on navigating economic uncertainty, balancing technology with team development, and the significance of non-gaming amenities...

Send us Fan Mail This episode, REDW National Tribal Practice Leader, Wesley Benally, welcomes Rebecca George, Executive Director of the Washington Indian Gaming Association, to the podcast. They discuss the misconceptions surrounding tribal gaming, the economic impact it has on communities in the Pacific Northwest, and the importance of education and advocacy in navigating state-tribal relations i...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Wesley Benally interviews James Siva, Vice Chairman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, discussing the dual perspectives of tribal leadership and gaming advocacy. They explore the future of gaming in California, the importance of balancing community values with economic decisions, and the need for economic diversification among tribal nations. Siva emphasizes...

Send us Fan Mail Wesley Benally welcomes Taryn Reynolds, MSL, THRP II, to the Insight in Indian Country Podcast. Taryn is a proud member of the Osage Nation and Human Resources Consultant at REDW Advisors & CPAs. With a rich background spanning 13 years in tribal government, she shares her unique perspective on blending traditional values with progressive governance in tribal organizations. In...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of Insight in Indian Country , host Wesley Benally welcomes Sean McCabe, CPA and Controller of the Navajo Nation , for a candid discussion about building a meaningful legacy in tribal finance. With nearly 30 years of accounting experience, Sean reflects on what it means to leave a lasting impact that "my kids could be proud of, my people could be prou...

Send us Fan Mail It's Native American Heritage Month! The latest episode of Insight in Indian Country features Marcus Benally, a Navajo audit manager at REDW Advisors and CPAs , who skillfully blends his grandfather's teachings with corporate leadership in the finance industry. In this candid conversation, podcast host REDW Principal and National Tribal Practice Leader Wesley Benally sit...

Send us Fan Mail Actor and spiritual leader Mo Brings Plenty joins the Insight in Indian Country Podcast guest-hosted by REDW’s Cristin Heyns-Bousliman . With a special appearance with Wesley Jones, Mo discusses Tribal Nations Health, a Native-led organization he co-founded with James Jordan. The organization provides customized healthcare solutions for Tribal communities, focusing on preventive c...

Send us Fan Mail Update: On March 21, 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced a significant revision to the Corporate Transparency Act . Beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting will no longer be required of U.S. companies or U.S. individuals. The program has been modified to require BOI reporting only by foreign entities that have...

Send us Fan Mail Becerra v. San Carlos Apache Tribe is a landmark Supreme Court case centered around the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA), which enables Tribes to enter into contracts with the Federal Government to operate their own health programs. The court's recent decision in favor of the San Carlos Apache Tribe affirmed the government's obligation to f...

Send us Fan Mail The Tribal Leadership Council is a board-governed not-for-profit business that proudly supports tribal leaders and executives with continuing education and provides tools to better their organizations. Intent on building capacity in Indian Country, the council's primary focus is empowering leadership and promoting economic growth and prosperity for tribal communities. This ep...

Send us Fan Mail The need for consistency, collaboration, and good internal controls cannot be overstated for implementing GASB 96, which establishes uniform accounting and financial reporting for subscription-based information technology agreements (SBITAs). With upcoming fiscal years ends on the horizon, REDW National Tribal Practice Leader Wes Benally and Audit Principal Chris Bitakis take some...

Send us Fan Mail It's time to dust off those P&Ps! REDW's Internal Audit team is here to help you find the finish line with your organization's policies and procedures. For all types of organizations, turnover and evolving roles are common issues that both contribute to outdated policies and procedures and require their updates. For Internal Audit Awareness Month, REDW National...

Send us Fan Mail On May 16, the New Mexico Society of CPAs (NMSCPA) is hosting their Second Annual Tribal Conference focused on tribal enterprises, cohosted by REDW Advisors and CPAs. Wes Benally is joined by fellow REDW Principals Victor Flores and Chris Henderson to touch on conference topics including tribal economics, entrepreneurship, and impact investing with native-owned businesses.  Victor...

Send us Fan Mail Tribal fiduciaries have a responsibility to follow sound fiscal practices and fulfill their duty of care. This episode, Wes Benally and Paul Madrid discuss the Tribal fiduciary role and reducing risk in the management of employer-sponsored retirement plans. Paul explains the unique challenges tribal fiduciaries face, the importance of following fiduciary responsibilities, and intr...

Send us Fan Mail Our celebration of Women's History Month continues with Hattie Mitchell, a senior manager in client advisory and accounting services . Hattie shares her journey as a professional and member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation with REDW National Tribal Practice Leader and show host, Wes Benally . She discusses the inspiration she drew from her family's involvement in tr...

Send us Fan Mail Happy Women's History Month! In this episode, REDW Principal and National Tribal Practice Leader Wes Benally interviews Colaine Curtis, a senior manager and client advisor. Colaine shares her journey as a Diné woman in the accounting profession, discussing her early career working for tribal organizations, transition to public accounting, and the rewards and challenges of her...