Proposed boost in IHS budget rejected by Senate (March 12, 2004)

The U.S. Senate voted 51 to 45 early this morning to approve a $2.4 trillion budget after rejecting an amendment to increase Indian Health Service (IHS) by $3.44 billion. Sen. Tom Daschle (D.S.D.), the minority leader, called for an increase...

Senator Daschle on Indian Health Service (March 12, 2004)

The following is the text of a floor speech by Senator Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) on an amendment to increase the budget for the Indian Health Service. March 11, 2004. Mr. President, last week's Congress Daily included a story that still...

AFN considers moving annual convention to Fairbanks (March 12, 2004)

The board of the Alaska Federation of Natives is voting this week to consider moving its annual convention from Anchorage to Juneau in 2005. AFN formed a committee to consider possible alternatives to Anchorage, where the convention has been held...

Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe plans new buildings (March 12, 2004)

The Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts is planning to build two major structures as a lawsuit over land use on tribal land makes its way through the courts. The tribe will begin work on a 9,200 square-foot community center in...

High school in Ore. won't get rid of Indians mascot (March 12, 2004)

A high school in Oregon that is merging with another high school will keep its "Indians" name and mascot. Students and alumni at Dalles High School objected to a change. But students from the smaller Chenowith School said a new...

Narragansett leader pleads not guilty to hitting officer (March 12, 2004)

A council member for the Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island pleaded not guilty on Thursday to assault of a non-Indian police officer. Last month, a police officer pursed Hiawatha Brown onto the reservation. A stand-off occurred and Brown allegedly punched...

Judge in N.Y. hears Seneca-Cayuga land dispute (March 12, 2004)

A federal judge in New York heard oral arguments on Thursday in a dispute over the rights of the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma. The tribe is a party to a 250,000-acre land claim suit involving land in New York. A...

Crow Reservation man gets 24 years for death (March 12, 2004)

A man from the Crow Reservation in Montana was sentenced to 24 years in prison for shooting and killing his uncle and hurting his estranged girlfriend. Quinton Birdinground Jr., 24, was convicted by a federal jury of second-degree murder in...

Riverside beats Sequoyah in well-attended matchup (March 12, 2004)

More than 8,000 fans, most of them Native American, attended an historic basketball game between two Indian schools in Oklahoma. The matchup between Riverside Indian School and Sequoyah-Tahlequah High School was only a first round in the state's Class 3A...

Pojoaque Pueblo to announce plans for major resort (March 12, 2004)

Pojoaque Pueblo in northern New Mexico will announce plans for a major hotel resort, The Albuquerque Journal reports. The tribe is partnering with Hilton Hotels to build the complex, which would feature two different hotels. Plans also call for a...

Navajo Nation considers license plates a success (March 12, 2004)

The Navajo Nation's license plate deal with the state of Arizona will be used to pay for road projects on the reservation. The tribe designed its own plate that tribal members can buy for $25. Of that amount, the tribe...

Woman pleads guilty to planting bones (March 12, 2004)

A Michigan woman pleaded guilty on Thursday to planting bones and other false evidence at several crime scenes. Sandra Anderson admitted to planting evidence at sites in Michigan and Ohio so that her dog, Eagle, could find them. She faces...

Editorial: Navajo $500M bond plan may be 'Raw Deal' (March 12, 2004)

"Some Navajo leaders are likening President Joe Shirley Jr.’s proposal to issue $500 million in revenue bonds to FDR’s “New Deal” plan of the 1930s. Roosevelt’s “New Deal” used government funds and initiatives to put people to work improving infrastructure,...

Indian Eddie: Tribes wasting money on lobbyists (March 12, 2004)

"In 1996, the cash-strapped Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma depleted their bank account to donate $107,000 to the Democratic Party. I emphasize the word "donate." Tribal leaders were under the impression that in doing so the federal government would...

School considers eliminating 'Mohawks' team name (March 12, 2004)

A school in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is considering removal of its Mohawks team nickname. The Morden Collegiate principal is worried the team's name and symbols are offensive. The school got rid of its tomahawk logo but the school still uses feathers...

Can. Supreme Court to hear landmark trust lawsuit (March 12, 2004)

Canada's Supreme Court will hear oral arguments later this month in a case testing the reaches of the trust relationship. The British Columbia Court of Appeal ruled that the government has a fiduciary obligation to inform First Nations of actions...

Indian group eyes creation of charter school (March 12, 2004)

The United Indians of All Tribes Foundation of Washington is looking to create a charter school to keep Native students in school. Tribal and other representatives met at the foundation's Daybreak Star Cultural Center yesterday to talk about the idea....

MSU Indian students holding pow-wow this month (March 12, 2004)

The Montana State University-Billings Intertribal Indian Club is holding its pow-wow March 26 and 27. The club expects 6,000 people to attend the event at MetraPark’s Expo Center. Host drum is Eagle Whistles. Students are the head dancers. The club...

Chickasaw Nation complex to include fun center, gaming (March 12, 2004)

A view of the new fun center. The Ada Travel Plaza, including gaming machines, is to the far right. A closer view of the fun center. A map of the entire Ada complex, including pending application for gaming. Click...

Report: Martin bent rules to recognize Conn. tribe (March 12, 2004)

Top Bureau of Indian Affairs official Aurene Martin recognized the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation of Connecticut knowing the tribe did not meet all mandatory criteria for federal acknowledgment, The Hartford Courant reports. Staff wrote a January 12 memo to Martin saying...

First Nations protest in Labrador turns violent (March 12, 2004)

What started out as a takeover of the tribal offices in an Innu community in Labrador ended with a violent clash between tribal members and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A group of adults and children entered Sheshatshiu First Nation...