Quinault Indian Nation President Fawn Sharp received the 2017 American Indian Leadership Award from the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development at its 31st National Reservation Summit in Las Vegas March 15.

The annual award is presented to “outstanding individuals and companies for their contributions to economic parity and the betterment of Indian communities,” according to Chris James, center president and CEO. He said President Sharp received the honor for her leadership and exemplary commitment to advancing economic progress in the American Indian business community.

“I am truly humbled to receive this honor,” Sharp said. “Economic progress is a top priority of the Quinault Indian Nation. We have long realized that our people and our Tribe can make economic advances and stay true to our heritage at the same time. We can take care of our land, respect the legacies of our ancestors and provide for the needs of our children today and build businesses and the economy with full regard for the generations to come.”

Sharp added that another key to success is a good neighbor policy with non-tribal communities.

“We work with these communities every way we can. We cooperate with them and with other jurisdictions whenever it’s possible because what we do affects them, and what they do affects us,” she said. “When we find common ground and work together to develop clean industry and manage land and resources properly, we all benefit. We all grow, as people, together.”

The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development is the longest standing and largest American Indian business and economic development organization in the country.