Montana tribes brace for severe winter weather (January 13, 2005)

Montana's tribes prepared themselves for the worst as severe winter temperatures hit the state on Wednesday. The Blackfeet Reservation is expected to experience some of the most severe conditions. The tribe, the county and the Bureau of Indian Affairs established...

Supreme Court alters federal criminal sentencing (January 13, 2005)

Federal judges will no longer have to abide by the mandatory sentencing guidelines under a long-awaited decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday. In one part of the decision, a majority led by Justice John Paul Stevens held that...

Navajo Nation water deal ready for state, Congress (January 13, 2005)

The $750 million Navajo Nation water rights settlement is ready for approval by the state of New Mexico and the federal government. The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission approved the deal unanimously yesterday. The Navajo Nation Council approved it late...

University of Oregon finally opens longhouse (January 13, 2005)

The Many Nations Longhouse was dedicated at the University of Oregon on Tuesday. The 3,000-square-foot building was 20 years in the making. It cost $1.2 million, raised almost entirely through private donations. Native students and student organizations will use the...

Power restored to Native village hit by storm (January 13, 2005)

Power was restored to the Inupiat Eskimo village of Kaktovik on Wednesday as supplies finally made it to a community crippled by a storm. But the danger isn't over for the 300 residents. The village is worried about flooding and...

Man sentenced to probation in Crow kickback scheme (January 13, 2005)

A man from the Crow Reservation in Montana was sentenced to two years of federal probation for taking part in a kickback scheme that defrauded the Crow Tribe. Elliot Mountain Sheep, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of theft from...

Miccosukee man on trial again for murder of sons (January 13, 2005)

Jury selection begins today for the retrial of a Miccosukee man accused of murdering his two young sons. Kirk Billie drove an SUV carrying the boys, ages 3 and 5, into a canal. He has said he didn't know they...

Family of Indian women are key political players (January 13, 2005)

Three Indian women from the same family are playing key roles in the Montana state government. Anna Whiting-Sorrell, Rhonda Whiting and Gwen Lankford are serving in key positions in the executive and legislative branches. All three women are members of...

Conviction of tribal official spurs new probes (January 13, 2005)

California attorney general's office and the National Indian Gaming Commission are launching new investigations into a tribal official who was convicted of a felony, The Los Angeles Times reports. Gilbert Cash pleaded no contest in November to a felony charge...

Maine tribe sued over sexual abuse by former officer (January 13, 2005)

The Passamaquoddy Tribe of Maine has been hit with a $1 million civil lawsuit by the mother of a teenage girl who was sexually abused by a former tribal police officer. Carlos Bones, 40, was sentenced last week to four...

Indian activists in Bolivia stage major protests (January 13, 2005)

Indian activists in Bolivia staged major protests on Wednesday against President Carlos Mesa. Activists sealed off roads leading to the country's two largest cities, including the capital of La Paz. They are making a number of demands on Mesa, such...

Oneida Nation ruling could impact land claims (January 13, 2005)

The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the Oneida Nation's land case could impact other tribes with land claims, observers say. The tribe's claim isn't at issue in the case but the justices asked questions about it because the city of...

Tribal fisherman denies violating treaty rights (January 13, 2005)

A tribal fisherman denied violating the 1836 Chippewa Treaty at a hearing before a tribal commission on Wednesday. Tom Battice, a member of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, is accused of harvesting 3,857 pounds of fish past a...

Revised diet guidelines emphasize body weight (January 13, 2005)

The Bush administration issued a revision of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines on Wednesday that urged Americans to maintain a healthy body weight. Studies show that a majority of Americans are overweight or obese. This contributes to other health problems, particularly...

Probate Reform Act focus of Indian law conference (January 13, 2005)

The Indian Probate Reform Act recently signed into law will be the primary focus of the second annual Indian Law Conference at the University of Idaho College of Law in Moscow, Idaho. The conference will be held February 16-17. Douglas...

State of Indian Nations to be delivered February 3 (January 13, 2005)

The third annual State of Indian Nations Address will be delivered on February 3 by Tex Hall, President of the National Congress of American Indians. According to NCAI, the address will focus on promoting strong tribal self-governance and developing healthy...

Democrat sworn in as Washington's governor (January 13, 2005)

Democrat Christine Gregoire was sworn in as Washington's governor on Wednesday amid objections from state Republicans who are calling for an entirely new vote after their candidate, Dino Rossi, lost by 129 votes. Rossi, who is of Tlingit and Italian...

Bush proposes testing of high school students (January 13, 2005)

President Bush on Wednesday proposed a $1.5 billion expansion of the No Child Left Behind Act to require testing of public high school students. At a speech in Virginia, Bush decried the disparity in achievement levels of minority students. "African...

NMAI receives singer's 'YMCA' famed gold record (January 13, 2005)

The National Museum of the American Indian received a special donation on Wednesday from an original member of the Village People. Felipe Rose, who is Lakota Sioux and Puerto Rican, presented a framed, gold 45-rpm single of group's hit "Y.M.C.A."...

Indian lobby shop signs on former NIGA counsel (January 13, 2005)

Ietan Consulting, an Indian-owned lobbying firm in Washington, D.C., has a new partner. John Harte, a member of San Felipe Pueblo from New Mexico, comes to the firm from the National Indian Gaming Association. He was that organization's longtime general...

Commentary: Tribal lobbyist scandal is familiar tale (January 13, 2005)

"Ever since Columbus waded ashore, say the elders beside the Knife and the Little Big Horn, white men in funny hats have been asking, "Where did that Indian go?" In this context, the latest scandal — involving Jack Abramoff and...