New Firm Launches to Bridge Federal-Tribal Relations, Policy Implementation
Longmont, Colorado – – A new strategic consulting firm, Hawk Eye Strategies LLC, has been established to advise Tribal Nations, government agencies, and conservation organizations on navigating complex federal policy, land management, and tribal engagement. The firm, founded by Andrea Delgado and Onna LeBeau, formally organized in Colorado in early 2026, bringing together nearly four decades of experience at the highest levels of U.S. Government and Native American advocacy.
Delgado, based in Longmont, Colorado, most recently served as deputy regional forester for the U.S. Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Region, following a role as chief of staff for Natural Resources and Environment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. LeBeau, working from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, previously held the position of chief impact officer at the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy and led the Office of Indian Economic Development at the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The impetus for launching Hawk Eye Strategies stemmed from a shared observation of a recurring challenge: the failure of well-intentioned policies due to a lack of effective communication and collaboration between federal agencies and tribal governments. “I saw a recurring gap,” Delgado explained. “The most meaningful and innovative policies can fail not for lack of will, but for lack of a bridge between the briefing room and the front line.”
Addressing a Sovereignty Gap
A core focus of Hawk Eye Strategies is addressing what the founders describe as a persistent mischaracterization of tribal governments within federal agencies – a tendency to treat them as stakeholders rather than sovereign nations. Delgado recounted frequently having to correct internal memos to emphasize the unique nation-to-nation relationship. “That requires a different level of engagement — at the highest levels of leadership,” she stated.
Delgado, who is Ecuadorian-Colombian and a naturalized U.S. Citizen, emphasized that effective engagement requires acknowledging the historical context of broken treaties and trust obligations. “You have to acknowledge it, and you have to respect it,” she said. “If you’re not willing to sit in that discomfort and continue to show up, you’re never going to build trust.”
LeBeau, an enrolled member of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, echoed this sentiment, drawing on her experience at the Bureau of Indian Affairs where policy decisions often lacked connection to the realities on the ground in tribal communities. “There was a disconnect between what was occurring at the national level…versus what’s actually happening on the ground with community members,” she said. “Decisions were being made…where the real voices weren’t being heard.”
Focus on Implementation and Economic Development
Hawk Eye Strategies will concentrate on advising clients on policy implementation, land stewardship, and navigating complex transitions where federal regulations, consultation requirements, and local realities intersect. The firm is intentionally limiting its client base, prioritizing alignment with its core values over maximizing volume. Target clients include tribal nations, Native-led organizations, local and state governments, federal agencies, conservation groups, and philanthropic organizations.
“We’re vetting clients just as much as they’re vetting us,” Delgado said. “We’re not hired guns. We’ve been trusted because we’re candid and willing to say things whether they make people comfortable or not.”
LeBeau brings significant expertise in community finance and economic development, honed during her tenure as executive director of the Black Hills Community Loan Fund, a Native CDFI. She expanded the organization’s mission, increased its capitalization, and developed programs focused on credit building and business development within Native communities in western South Dakota. She highlighted the ongoing need for increased access to capital in Indian Country, stating, “It’s not a one-size-fits-all from community to community…and there still isn’t enough access to capital across Indian Country.”
Opportunities Amidst Uncertainty
Despite potential political shifts in Washington, the partners remain optimistic about opportunities for tribal nations, particularly in the area of tribal co-stewardship of public lands. Delgado noted that the legal authorities supporting co-stewardship agreements remain intact. “Tribal co-stewardship is a concept, but it’s backed by multiple legal authorities that can continue to operate under any administration,” she said, citing existing agreements involving the Black Hills National Forest and other federal lands.
LeBeau pointed to ongoing economic development tools within the Indian Affairs, including the Indian Loan Guarantee Program, which recently received over $400 million in lending authority – its highest level to date. “The programs are still there,” LeBeau said. “It takes people who understand the system to say, ‘It’s still available, and here’s how you navigate it.’”
Personal Motivations and Values
The launch of Hawk Eye Strategies also allows LeBeau greater flexibility to care for her elderly mother, a boarding school survivor who dedicated four decades to the Bureau of Indian Affairs as an EEO and ethics officer. LeBeau’s work in Native finance has underscored the lasting impact of historical trauma on financial decision-making and institutional trust within tribal communities.
Delgado stated that the firm allows her to continue public-interest work while maintaining independence, including pro bono efforts and wildfire response. She remains an active fire qualified liaison officer, supporting incident management teams.
Both partners emphasized that their work is driven by core values, not partisan politics. “Notice values that cross party lines,” Delgado said. “We’re open to working with people across the spectrum, as long as what they’re trying to accomplish aligns with responsible stewardship, respect for sovereignty and delivering results where it matters.”
Hawk Eye Strategies, LLC is registered as a DLLC in Colorado, with a principal office address at
338 Main St, Suite 27, Longmont, CO 80501. The registered agent is Andrea Liliana Delgado Fink. The firm can be reached via email at Delgado@Hawk-Eye-Strategies.com and LeBeau@Hawk-Eye-Strategies.com.
