Red Lake taps Internet

American Indian products selling big on the WebThe Red Lake Band of Ojibwe in northern Minnesota has developed a booming business on the Internet. The band sells wild rice, jellies and traditional handmade crafts to customers worldwide. Red Lake is one of a growing number of American Indian tribes tapping the power of the Web to get the highest value for homegrown products and the effort is creating jobs and establishing new business networks in Indian Country.

Internet sales have exploded since Red Lake first started its Web site four years ago. Annual online sales for Red Lake Nation Foods jumped from around $10,000 the first year, to more than $250,000 in 2007.