McCain to address federal recognition concerns (April 22, 2005)

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee has scheduled an oversight hearing on the federal recognition process that chairman Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) says has become tainted by gaming. In the past decade, tribal casinos have grown into an $18 billion industry...

City repudiates law allowing shooting of Indians (April 22, 2005)

A South Dakota city has repudiated a law that allegedly allowed anyone to "fire upon" a group of three or more Indians. Spearfish Mayor Jerry Krambeck said there is no evidence the law actually existed. Several web sites [Dumb South...

Native man said to capture 'Bigfoot' on videotape (April 22, 2005)

A Native man from the Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba who is said to have captured Bigfoot on videotape has generated a flurry of media interest. Bobby Clarke says he has a 49-second clip of a tall, dark figure...

Ponca Tribe files suit to close chemical plant (April 22, 2005)

The Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma filed a lawsuit in federal court on Wednesday seeking the closure of a chemical plant and monetary damages. The tribe filed suit on behalf of 11 adults members and 52 children. The plaintiffs say the...

Cobell: Ross Swimmer and the truth rarely mix (April 22, 2005)

"The way Ross Swimmer, the Interior Department's special trustee, is talking these days you'd think there really wasn't any reason for Indians to be upset over the thousands of individual Indian trust accounts the Oklahoman is supposed to be overseeing....

Navajo Nation Council takes up same-sex marriage (April 22, 2005)

A bill to outlaw same-sex marriages on the Navajo Nation is the first bill up for consideration today by the Navajo Nation Council, The Farmington Daily Times reports. Council delegate Larry Anderson Sr. introduced the Diné Marriage Act. The bill...

Judge wants Klamath Tribes lawsuit dismissed (April 22, 2005)

A federal magistrate in Oregon has recommended the dismissal of a $1 billion lawsuit filed by the Klamath Tribes. The tribes sued PacifiCorp for building dams on the Klamath River. The tribes say the dams violated their treaty rights by...

First Nations Development awarded grant (April 22, 2005)

The First Nations Development Institute has been awarded a $87,000 grant that will be used to provide financial education to Native Americans. The money will be used to develop a curriculum called "Investment Skills for Families" that is part of...

Illiniwek 'chiefs' say they are proud of tradition (April 22, 2005)

University of Illinois students who have portrayed the school's controversial Chief Illiniwek mascot say they are carrying on a proud tradition. Students act as "chief" and "assistant chief." They are taught how to "dance" and perform by Former chiefs who...

Tulalip Tribes withholding approval for pier (April 22, 2005)

The Tulalip Tribes of Washington are withholding approval for the construction of a new pier and may exchange their support if a tribal tax bill is revived, The Everett Herald reports. The Tulalips are negotiating with the Port of Everett...

Indian students from Montana win business award (April 22, 2005)

Three Indian students from the University of Montana have won a $1,000 award for their business leadership skills. Sophia Alvarez, Danny Garcia and Michelle Sangrey attended the 11th annual American Indian Business Leadership conference earlier this month. They won the...

California tribes work with neighbors on gaming (April 22, 2005)

Representatives of several tribes in southern California met with local officials on Thursday to discuss the impact and Indian gaming. The meeting was held at the casino owned by the San Pasqual Band Of Mission Indians. Attendees talked about the...

Oregon college to receive tribal blessing for name (April 22, 2005)

A community college in Oregon will finally receive blessings from local tribes to use an Indian word as its name. Chemeketa Community College was named in 1969 but no one ever asked if tribes approved. As the school's 35th anniversary...

Mashantucket museum laments loss of baskets (April 22, 2005)

The museum owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation in Connecticut is "stunned" by the loss of 30 to 40 historic Pequot baskets, The New London Day reports. The Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center had recently photographed the baskets,...

Abramoff and Scanlon still 'hounding' Sag Chips (April 22, 2005)

Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon are "still hounding" the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan, sub-chief Bernie Sprague says The tribe gave at least $14 million to Abramoff and Scanlon. But Sprague, who testified against the lobbyists before the Senate Indian...

Abramoff defends lobbying work for tribal clients (April 22, 2005)

Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff told NBC Nightly News that the work he did for tribal clients, while costly, was worth it. Abramoff said in an interview that he did not cheat six tribes who gave him, his partner and his...

One GOP group won't give records to McCain (April 22, 2005)

A Republican group that received donations from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff's tribal clients is refusing to turn over its donor list to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) is seeking records from Americans for Tax Reform....

Coushatta Tribe sues Abramoff, Scanlon in state court (April 22, 2005)

A federal magistrate on Thursday refused to move a lawsuit the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana filed against disgraced Washington lobbyists Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon. The tribe filed a suit against their former lobbyists in state court. The tribe claims...

Meskwakis gave $50K to group founded by Norton (April 22, 2005)

A faction of the Meskwaki Tribe of Iowa that was eventually recognized as the legitimate leadership of the tribe gave $50,000 to a group founded by Interior Secretary Gale Norton, Raw Story reports. The donation to the Council of Republicans...

Novak: McCain hopes for indictment of Abramoff (April 22, 2005)

"Sources close to Sen. John McCain say he hopes the Justice Department will indict embattled Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, which would terminate investigation by McCain's Senate Indian Affairs Committee of Abramoff's deals with Indian tribes. McCain has been accused by...