b'THINKING: NATIVE WOMEN LEADBy Kelly ParkerTurning dreams INTO REALITYHow a non-profit group in New Mexico is helping Indigenous women break through systemic barriers to start and grow their own businessI n New Mexico, home to a largeYet sadly, Indigenous women make just 50Entrepreneurship is a place where they get population of Indigenous peoples, anto 60 cents on the dollar compared to theirfull agency to say, This is how I need to live organization called Native Womenwhite, male, non-Hispanic counterparts.my life, according to my values, to help pay Lead (NWL) is working tirelesslyme what Im worth, because no one else to help the states Indigenous womenBecause two-thirds of Indigenous women areis going to, explains Vanessa Roanhorse, entrepreneurs achieve self-reliance, self- the primary breadwinners in their commun- co-founder of NWL and CEO of Roanhorse determination, and a brighter future. ities, this financial inequity undermines theConsulting.economic stability of Indigenous families and According to New Mexicos Indian Affairscommunities. More and more IndigenousIn launching and growing a business, Department, Native American citizenswomen are starting their own business toIndigenous people face more barriers represent nearly 10.9 per cent of the statesaddress that pay gap, and theyre leaningcompared to their white counterparts. population: the third highest percentage intoward a concept of wealth based primarilyAccessing credit, which is crucial for any the U.S. after Alaska and Oklahoma. on self-worth and self-determination.business start-up, is a particular challenge. The NWL team in New Mexico'