Indigenous peoples' current relationship to community development has evolved in connection to their places, cultures, and histories. Along with this experience, their own worldviews have adapted and shaped some outstanding strategies for surviving and thriving. In the very best of these cases, the communities are able to heal old social fractures, revitalize knowledge and practices, strengthen abilities, and restore the soul of the communities to foster long-term well-being. While some community-development plans may try to treat issues with a pharmaceutical approach, suppressing the symptoms or addressing isolated problems, a holistic approach drawing on indigenous cultural resources can revitalize, strengthen, and sustain the whole community body for many lifetimes to come. In this article, the author advocates for the use of holistic approaches in Native American community development, and discusses the long-standing economic and political forces that come into play. (Contains 35 notes.)