This study investigates the relationship between indigenous entrepreneurship and the location of indigenous firms near economic clusters. In recent years there has been a fundamental shift in the way regional economic development is viewed. Promoting economic cluster formation has become the new strategy for regional competitive advantage and entrepreneurial growth. Cluster development has been shown to facilitate entrepreneurship and business performance, yet no research has been undertaken to investigate whether all entities benefit from local cluster development, especially less well represented parties such as Native American entrepreneurs, who are often located in rural areas away from economic clusters. The findings support the contention that Native American entrepreneurs located near economic clusters enjoy competitive advantages not experienced by their counterparts outside of cluster economies. The implications for Native American entrepreneurship and culture are discussed and areas for future research proposed.
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