Insight in Indian Country Podcast
Trusted Expertise to Serve Tribal Nations
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 episode, REDW National Tribal Practice Leader Wes Benally sits down with the organization’s Chairman and Co-Founder Justin Barrett (Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma) to talk about the council’s vision, accelerating growth, and upcoming conference. Tribal leaders won’t want to miss the conference taking place July 15-18! WONDR NATION and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation have created a grant funding opportunity for five Tribal Leaders to attend the conference. Listen in for details.
Chapters
- 00:00 – Introductions
- 04:22 – The Importance of Tools and Knowledge for Tribal Leaders
- 07:42 – Creating a Collaborative Network for Tribal Leaders
- 10:04 – Tribal Leadership Conference Dates and Registration
- 13:54 – Opportunities for Younger Leaders to Get Involved
- 15:36 – Collaborating with Companies like Amazon and AT&T
Takeaways
- The Tribal Leadership Council Conference aims to accelerate the growth of tribal leaders and provide them with the tools and knowledge to make the most of their time in office.
- The conference will cover topics such as energy sovereignty, economic development, and finance, with a focus on sharing ideas and best practices among tribal leaders.
- Networking and collaboration are essential for tribal leaders to learn from each other and build capacity in Indian Country.
- The conference dates are July 15th-18th, 2024, at the Morongo Casino Resort in Palm Springs. There are still seats available, and sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Get connected to expert insights for Tribal Nations. Subscribe to the Insight in Indian Country Newsletter.
References
- Register for the Tribal Leadership Conference 2024 | July 15 – 18, Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa
- Learn more about the Tribal Leadership Council
- Learn more about Tribal Leadership Council Chairman and Co-Founder, Justin Barrett
- Learn more about the Oklahoma Native Impact Report
Meet Your Host

Wesley Ryan Benally, CPA
REDW Principal and National Tribal Practice Leader
As the leader of REDW’s National Tribal Practice, Wes is committed to improving financial literacy throughout Indian Country and hosts the Insight in Indian Country Podcast. He oversees audits of a wide range for Native American communities, state and local government agencies, and non-profits nationwide, is a member of the Arizona State Board of Accountancy’s Peer Review Oversight Advisory Committee, and serves as an instructor with Arizona State University’s American Indian Policy Institute. In addition, as a Board member for a tribal gaming entity that operates in two states, Wes keeps up with regulatory issues important to tribal gaming operations. Wes is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.
More from Insight in Indian Country
- 2025 Tribal Leadership ConferenceFrom June 23-26, 2025 in Las Vegas, REDW will be joining with tribal leaders nationwide to share knowledge and insights on ways to ensure a prosperous future for tribal communities.
- Watch: Ransomware: Are You on a Hacker’s Hit List?Join the Cybersecurity experts from REDW for an interactive webinar that offers five critical defense strategies for safeguarding your Tribal organization, plus our free Cyber Incident Response Playbook.
- NAFOA 43rd Annual ConferenceFrom April 28-29 in New Orleans, REDW will be joining with tribes, state and federal government officials, and leading industry experts to discuss the latest economic issues in Indian Country.
- The true cost of reactive internal controls in tribal gaming operations.As tribal casinos handle more cash than most banks, proactive security measures have become crucial for protecting assets and communities.
- Oklahoma Tribal Finance Consortium 2025 Spring ConferenceAs a proud supporter and sponsor of the OTFC, REDW will be both speaking and exhibiting at this event.