Stronger Foundations: Insights from the Native Building Codes Summit

Thank you to everyone who joined us September 9–10, 2025, at the Clearwater River Casino Event Center for the Native American Building Codes & Workforce Development Summit!

Over two full days, Tribal leaders, housing professionals, planners, architects, and contractors came together to explore how Tribal Nations can shape and strengthen their built environments. Discussions focused on culturally aligned building codes, inspection and enforcement systems, and innovative workforce development strategies to support Tribal sovereignty and resilience.

“The summit is an exciting opportunity for Native Americans to come together and advocate for building codes and to create a stronger built environment so that we can create a generation that will be in a healthier living standard.”

DAVID JACKSON, GILA INDIAN RIVER COMMUNITY & TOHONO O’ODHAM
CODE ADVISORY GROUP

Participants gained valuable insights from national experts and community voices, including Tribal Planners from area Nations, representatives from Native American Code Officials (NACO), and Lakota Funds, who shared their successful workforce development model and experience with code adoption in Indian Country. The summit also featured perspectives from policy advocates and funders working at the forefront of infrastructure and housing development for Native communities.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 – Clearwater River Casino, Lewiston, ID

The Summit opened with breakfast and an invocation, followed by introductions and two dynamic panel discussions. The first panel featured Native American building professionals discussing how cultural values inform housing and infrastructure development. The second panel focused on overcoming compliance challenges and advancing Tribal solutions through technical expertise and advocacy. Keynote speaker David Jackson highlighted the importance of building codes for safer, more resilient communities, followed by a panel connecting codes, careers, and community development to strengthen Native homeownership. The day concluded with a hands-on workshop on Tribal building codes and an evening networking reception at Rivaura Estate Winery, featuring food, drinks, and interactive activities to foster community connections.

The summit featured an outstanding lineup of speakers and presenters, including:

• David Jackson, Founder and Owner of the Code Advisory Group
• Tawney Brunsch, Executive Director of Lakota Funds
• Ellen Whitethunder, Deputy Director of Lakota Funds
• Jeff Ackley, Director of Native American Programs for Enterprise Community Partners’ Tribal Nations Team
• Val Drywater, Building Official for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
• Dale R. Schrock, Jr., Executive Director of the Colville Indian Housing Authority
• Jason Clark, Capital Improvements Director for the Colville Indian Housing Authority
• Michelangelo Bustamante, Commercial Lender at Native American Bank
• Douglas Marconi, Nez Perce Tribal Housing Authority Director
• Felix McGowan, MBA, AINS, AMERIND Critical Infrastructure Director
• Joel Holliday, Warm Springs Housing Authority
• Shayna Ferguson, Lakota Federal Credit Union
• Shawn Spencer

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 – Lapwai, ID (Site Visits)

The second day offered hands-on learning with site visits to Tribal projects in Lapwai, including the Tiny Village Housing Project, Nimiipuu Health Assisted Living Facility, and the Nez Perce Senior Day Center. Attendees explored these projects with guided tours, demonstrations, and discussions on inspection techniques, innovative design, and community impact. The day wrapped up back at Clearwater River Casino with lunch, reflections on lessons learned, digital plan and blueprint interpretation with David Jackson, and a closing group discussion and Q&A.

“I have a core desire to see building codes interact with how we build… more-so having some cultural diversity in our planning and the designing of our homes. We have tribal members that desire to… accommodate the things that we do [such as] cultural practices.”

Douglas Marconi Sr.
nimiipuu, Nez Perce Tribal Housing Authority

We are deeply grateful to our sponsors for making this event possible. Summit Sponsors included Enterprise Community Partners, National American Indian Housing Council, Nez Perce Tribal Housing Authority, Columbia Bank, Amerind, Nez Perce Tribe – Education, Career Program, and Hahn Rentals. Their investment supports stronger, safer, and more resilient Tribal communities.

Together, we took meaningful steps toward building systems that reflect Native values, protect our communities, and create pathways for the next generation of Tribal workforce leaders.