Indigenous Cryptocurrencies and the Future of Tribal Economies

Authors

Milton Bluehouse Jr., Dine College

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

12-6-2022

Abstract

Dr. Bluehouse explores the digital currency landscape, including decentralized exchanges, and the participation of tribal governments in the creation, development, and acquisition of virtual currencies as another element to economic development unhindered by federal and state regulations.

Comments

Milton Bluehouse, Jr., is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and is an associate professor at Diné College School of Business and Social Science. Prior to teaching at Diné College he was the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of the President and Vice President of the Navajo Nation. Mr. Bluehouse is the owner of Tribal Consultation Resources, LLC, an inter-governmental relations company that focused on state, federal and tribal inter-governmental relations, communications, and consultation services. Mr. Bluehouse also managed a multi-cultural environmental mediation network focused on Native American natural and cultural resources. The Network provided facilitation and mediation services for tribal, state, and federal governments. Mr. Bluehouse also served as the Environmental Justice State Coordinator and Tribal Liaison for the New Mexico Environment Department where he worked to improve government and community relations on environmental issues throughout the state. He also co-authored the first tribal consultation policy for the New Mexico Environment Department, the Office of the State Engineer, and the New Mexico Minerals Natural Resources Department. In 2008, Mr. Bluehouse received the EPA Environmental Justice National Award.

Immediately after graduating from law school in 2004, Milton worked for the Navajo Nation Washington Office, the Office of the Navajo Nation President and Vice President, and the Navajo Nation Council’s Office of Legislative Services on tribal legislative advocacy involving the U.S. Congress, the States of New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. He also worked as a legislative advisor for several Navajo tribal council committees, chapters, and communities. His focus during this time was on tribal health care, social services, public safety, and veterans affairs.

Mr. Bluehouse is a 1990 graduate of Saint Catherine’s Catholic School in Santa Fe, NM. He honorably served in the United States Marine Corps from 1991 to 1995. In 2000 he graduated from the University of Arizona, studying Political Science and History. In 2004 Mr. Bluehouse graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison Law School with law concentrations in Business and Transactions Law, Federal Indian Law, and Constitutional Law. He is the son of the late Milton Bluehouse, Sr. who was the former interim president and vice president of the Navajo Nation and council delegate of the Navajo Nation Council and Irma Bluehouse, a grassroots advocate and daughter of the late Dr. Annie Wauneka and granddaughter of Chee Dodge, the first contemporary chairman of the Navajo Nation in 1923 and child-survivor of the Long Walk in 1864 - 1868.

Recommended Citation

Bluehouse, Milton Jr.. "Indigenous Cryptocurrencies and the Future of Tribal Economies." (2022). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/crs_presentations/22