Editorial: Dave Anderson should not resign (May 7, 2004)

"Dave Anderson, Edina resident and barbecue restaurateur, has only been on the job at the Bureau of Indian Affairs for a few months and already some in Washington are calling for his head. Anderson, who was also a founder of...

Support grows for Western Shoshone trust fund bill (May 7, 2004)

A bill to distribute a $143 million trust fund to members of the Western Shoshone Nation is gaining support. $p Rep. Richard Pombo (R-California), chairman of the House Resources Committee, will support the version that was introduced by Sen. Harry...

Police stumped over theft of fossil in Native village (May 7, 2004)

Police in Alaska say they are having trouble finding out who is behind the recent theft of two fossilized mastodon tusks in an Inupiat Eskimo village. $p Thefts are reportedly rare in Deering, a small village of 131. But no...

Johnson seeks investigation into OST expansion (May 7, 2004)

Sen. Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) is asking for a far-reaching investigation into the Office of Special Trustee, citing concerns over the expansion of an agency originally designed to oversee, but not implement, trust reform. In a letter to the General...

Editorial: Respect Indian views on school mascots (May 7, 2004)

"The fight over mascots seems most polarizing in states where Indians are few in numbers, where invading settlers tried to eradicate not just tradition and culture, but the Indian people themselves. They succeeded so well that in many places, only...

Contract cost shortfalls discouraging to tribes (May 7, 2004)

The federal government's failure to pay all contract support costs discourages tribes from exercising self-determination, the legislative director for the National Indian Health Board says. $p Traci McCallan says tribes can manage programs more efficiently than the government. But the...

New Miss Indian World learned at lot at competition (May 7, 2004)

Delena Smith, the new Miss Indian World, says she learned a lot from her fellow competitors at this year's Gathering of Nations pow-wow. $p Smith, 23, a Head Start teacher from the Red Lake Ojibwe Tribe in Minnesota, said she...

Dodd says Anderson recusal came out of nowhere (May 7, 2004)

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Connecticut) says he is puzzled by assistant secretary Dave Anderson's decision to recuse himself on all federal recognition matters. $p Dodd says he met with Anderson during the confirmation process. He told The Hartford Courant that Anderson...

Maoris stage massive march over ban on land claims (May 7, 2004)

An estimated 15,000 Maoris marched on the capitol of Wellington, New Zealand, to protest a bill that would terminate their rights to the coastline. $p The government introduced the bill to declare the land public property. The bill would prevent...

Yakama Nation buys juice plant that was closed (May 7, 2004)

The Yakama Nation of Washington is starting its own line of juices with the purchase of a juice plant. $p The tribe bought the Hi-Country Foods juice plant, which closed last November. The tribe will begin bottling apple juice under...

Tribal official defends closure of California charter school (May 7, 2004)

The administrator for the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians said the tribe was forced to close a charter school in Ukiah, California, after being denied access to the facility. $P Walter Gray sits on the board of directors for the...

Pombo to hold hearing on BIA-OST reorganization (May 7, 2004)

The House Resources Committee is expected to hold an oversight hearing on the reorganization of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Office of Special Trustee next week. $p Rep. Richard Pombo (R-California), chairman of the committee, has been asked by...

Reservation teen had high blood-alcohol level (May 7, 2004)

A 15-year-old boy from the Flathead Reservation in Montana had a blood-alcohol level five times the legal limit, according to published reports. $p Joseph DuMontier Jr. died May 1. The autopsy report said he had a blood alcohol level of...

Opinion: Tribe's culture can't be traded for cash (May 7, 2004)

"Which leg do you want me to cut off — the spiritual leg or the scientific leg?” queried Jim Rock, a traditional Dakota educator, to a University administrator during a press conference Wednesday outside of University President Bob Bruininks’ office....

Kickapoo Tribe asks BIA for help on reservoir (May 7, 2004)

The Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas is asking the Bureau of Indian Affairs to condemn land for a critical reservoir project. $p The tribe's reservation has suffered from drought conditions for several years. The 475-acre reservoir would help address the water...

Mississippi Choctaw chief to speak at Brett Favre Day (May 7, 2004)

Phillip Martin, chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaws, will speak at Brett Favre Day on Saturday. $p Brett Favre, quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, is Choctaw. His father, the late Irv Favre, also known as Big Irv, was...

Police tensions continue at Mohawk First Nation (May 7, 2004)

The exiled chief of the Kanesatake Mohawk First Nation of Quebec has asked federal law enforcement to patrol the community. $p Grand Chief James Gabriel says he was forced to act because his own police force has been forced out....

New Bush salmon policy not resonating in polls (May 7, 2004)

Pollsters say a new Bush administration policy to count hatchery-raised salmon as wild is not yet a concern among voters in the Pacific Northwest. $p The change will likely mean that certain species of salmon will no longer be listed...