She thought it was "a white society thing," where an American Indian woman had no business.

She was wrong.

McCabe, 48, said she was invited by the chamber to a company's grand opening, where she met several women business owners who gave her advice and encouraged her to grow her company.

"I thought, 'If she can do it, why can't I?' " she said. "They gave me confidence."

Now, as one of about a dozen people organizing the state's first Utah Native American Chamber of Commerce, McCabe is excited about sharing what she's learned about the business world with others.

She expects it to be challenging to get American Indians to invest in joining the chamber, socialize at networking events and participate in business seminars.

"We will wait, but they will come," McCabe said. "I hope it works."

The formation of the Native American group comes a few years after Utah's other minorities created their own business networks, with the exception of the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce that was established in 1991. The Latin American Chamber of Commerce opened in 2005, then the Asian, Black and Pacific Islander chambers were started in 2006. As a result, United for Economic Development was created with representatives from the five ethnic chambers.

The Pacific Islander chamber was organized by nine people, and within almost two years, it has increased to about 50 members, said Bev Uipi, the group's president.

Uipi said she's glad to see the Native American chamber joining Utah business circles. Her advice is to treat the founding of a chamber as one would the opening of a business.

"There will be some ups and downs," Uipi said. "But if they stick to it, they'll do just fine."

Cal Nez started his graphic design business in Salt Lake City more than 20 years ago. He said he never joined a chamber because he didn't want to pay the membership and didn't understand the value of networking.

"I wish I would have jumped on board," he said.

But after seeing the other minority business networks organizing, Nez met with a handful of people in January to get the Native American chamber going.

"It's about time we move," said Nez, who grew up living on the Navajo Nation reservation and in Salt Lake City. "We've got to be part of the business world."

McCabe, a high school dropout who recently graduated from college, quit her $40,000-a-year job as a mail clerk in January after more than 20 years. She now runs her company, Sandy's Kitchen, full time with the help of her husband, Samir Nagar. The catering business specializes in Navajo and East Indian cuisine.

She said she hopes she can motivate other American Indians to become business owners and learn how to make the most of opportunities available for women.

"If you want to be somebody, you have to go out there and get it," she said.

So far, the Native American chamber has about 40 members.

"If the Native world wants to change its economic situation, it is through small business," Nez said.

jsanchez@sltrib.com