"Native Americans are one of the least served of all ethnic groups," Debra Sillik, president of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Nevada, said. "I believe because they're smaller, and I also believe they're very private people. They're not going to go out and ask for help. What I'm seeing is a lot of them are out of their element. They've come to this big city and they don't have the spiritual/cultural connection."

Sillik works as a volunteer for the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Nevada, and has been working for about seven months to put together a board of directors and to plan events for the group.

The American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Nevada is a group that first began operating eight years ago, she said. The group, which came under her leadership about seven months ago, didn't meet consistently and had more of a social function. Sillik said the group will now focus on actively working to provide networking and other opportunities for American Indian business people.

The group's first monthly luncheon under Sillik's leadership is set for September. She said membership is open to anyone who wants to help Native Americans in such areas as employment, self-employment and education.

Sillik said the number of American Indian business openings in Nevada is growing along with the growth of that population here. According to 2003 U.S. Census Bureau statistics there are 9,556 American Indian and Alaska Native people in Clark County. American Indian and Alaska Native-owned businesses in Nevada grew by 56 percent between 1997 and 2002 from 1,231 in 1997 to 1,915 in 2002, according to the Census Bureau.

She said the group will have more of a holistic approach to providing opportunities to American Indians such as employment opportunities and educational opportunities. In addition to the monthly meetings, Sillik said the group will offer educational workshops.The group, with the help of Citibank, will host workshops this fall and winter on first-time home buying in both Reno and Las Vegas.

Sillik said she also hopes to target American Indian youth by providing them with employment and scholarship opportunities.

"I know they have a high dropout rate," she said. "We're hoping to partner native youth with corporations so they'll get a taste of corporate life."

Sillik said the Las Vegas Valley's business community has been receptive to the group's mission. She said the group now has about 50 members and a board made up of representatives from such companies as MGM Mirage, Boyd Gaming Corp., Citibank, the Nevada Minority Business Council, McCarran International Airport and Harrah's Entertainment.

"The corporations have been very open to working with us, as have the casinos," Sillik said. "The response to the American Indian Chamber has been with open arms, which was surprising."

She said local corporations have assisted in many ways, such as helping her to network in the business community, by inviting her to events and by sponsoring luncheons and a planned awards banquet set for November. She said the Golden Eagle Feather Award banquet will honor Nevadans who have worked to help American Indians.

Sillik said many of the American Indian business leaders in her group are artisans, but many work in a variety of industries.

One member, Alonso Magallanes, is an owner of Hang on Time Signs, a local company that designs logos for T-shirts, banners and posters. He said he has worked in the valley on his own as a logo and sign designer for about 12 years. About two months ago he merged with Hang on Time Signs. Magallanes said he is optimistic that the group will help him acquire more business opportunities.

"I think it'll put me out there where these other businesses are, where I'll have some exposure," Magallanes said. "That's what I'm looking for, trying to get into the big bucks. I believe the chamber will help me do that."

Dianne Fontes, president of the Nevada Minority Business Council, said she thinks the group is off to a good start. The group is renting space through the council's incubator program, which helps small businesses get started.

"I feel it's going to go somewhere because she (Sillik) put together the right ingredients," Fontes said. "She put together a good board of directors and she's putting together some programs like a business. That's the difference to me, that's why it's going to work this time."

Irene Bustamante, director of national diversity relations for MGM Mirage, said the company has an employee who serves on the American Indian Chamber of Commerce's board of directors and it also has been active in helping Sillik to network in the business community.

"Our commitment to them is to help them create business opportunities for the Native American population," Bustamante said. "We see it as our corporate responsibility to assist chambers. Most of them are volunteer-based and so we do our part to outreach to them as well. That will be part of our serving on the board. It's (not just) to give a monetary contribution, but to be a responsible corporate citizen."

Alana Roberts covers courts and labor relations for In Business Las Vegas and its sister publication, the Las Vegas Sun. She can be reached by e-mail at alanar@lasvegassun.com or at (702) 259-4059.