Cobell and Cason to appear on C-SPAN program (July 6, 2005)

Update II: The entire show can be viewed at rtsp://video.c-span.org/15days/wj070605.rm. Update: Jim Cason appeared on the program for about 45 minutes. Most of the discussion focused on Indian gaming, including off-reservation gaming. Cason also addressed the trust fund, saying there...

State asks Supreme Court to review car tag case (July 6, 2005)

With a critical taxation case already on the horizon, the state of Kansas is looking to add another Indian law case to the U.S. Supreme Court docket. This past March, the justices agreed to determine whether the state can impose...

Oneida Nation gets respite in property tax fight (July 6, 2005)

A federal judge put a halt to foreclosure proceedings against the Oneida Nation on Friday, saving the New York tribe from millions of dollars in property tax payments. U.S. District Judge David Hurd ordered Madison County not to proceed with...

Crow Creek Sioux Tribe readies temporary dorm (July 6, 2005)

The Crow Creek Sioux Tribe of South Dakota is on track to open a temporary dorm to replace the one that was destroyed by fire. The temporary dorm is needed so that students have a place to stay once the...

Vigil marks one year since disappearance of girl (July 6, 2005)

About 100 people took part in a march on Tuesday to mark the one-year anniversary of the disappearance of a young Native girl. Tamra Keepness went missing from her home in Regina, Saskatchewan, on July 5, 2004. She was...

Column: Target alcoholism, not beer stores in Whiteclay (July 6, 2005)

"It's only 9 A.M. and a Monday, and inebriated Indians are already lying on the dusty curb here in Whiteclay. This speck of a town has 16 people and three beer stores. Its main business is selling alcohol to the...

Groups call for changes to Virginia recognition bill (July 6, 2005)

The Virginia Moose Association and the Virginia Elks Association are seeking changes to the Senate bill that would recognize six Virginia tribes. The groups say they aren't opposed to federal recognition for the Nansemond, Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Upper Mattaponi, Rappahannock...

'Baby K' heads home to Navajo Nation after 17 years (July 6, 2005)

After spending 17 years with a non-Native family, Allyssa Kristen Keetso-Pitts, once known as "Baby K," has returned to her roots on the Navajo Nation. Keetso-Pitts, 17, has moved in with her paternal grandmother in Red Lake, Arizona. She...

Church's youth group heads to Wind River Reservation (July 6, 2005)

A church in Indiana has sent its youth group to Wyoming to fix and paint homes on the Wind River Reservation. The two dozen teens from the New Hope Presbyterian Church left on Sunday for the reservation. They will spend...

NAGPRA amendment up for hearing in Senate (July 6, 2005)

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee on July 28 will hold an oversight hearing on the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. One topic on the agenda is a proposed amendment to NAGPRA. It clarifies that the law applies to...

Tulalip Tribes to discuss burial grounds with state (July 6, 2005)

Representatives of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington will meet with state officials to discuss the protection of burial grounds at the new Cama Beach State Park. The tribe wants the state to halt work at the park, where four...

Injury won't stop Native football star from playing (July 6, 2005)

Adam Ness, a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, suffered a knee injury during his final year playing football for Ashwaubenon High School. But the injury didn't keep Ness, a defensive back, from attending every practice. He was able...

Book describes South Dakota tribal governments (July 6, 2005)

John Glover, a Native American studies associate professor at Black Hills State University, has published a handbook describing tribal governments in South Dakota. "Tribal Sovereigns of South Dakota. A Description of Contemporary Sioux Governments" is being called the first book...

Emery A. Johnson, former IHS director, passes on (July 6, 2005)

Emery A. Johnson, the longest serving director of the Indian Health Service, died of cancer on June 26. He was 78. Johnson ran the IHS from 1969 to 1981. Prior to that, he served as a reservation staff physician...

Assembly of First Nations meets for annual session (July 6, 2005)

The Assembly of First Nations, Canada's largest inter-tribal organization, kicked off its annual general session on Tuesday. The theme of the session is "Strengthening First Nation Communities." It runs through Thursday and is being held for the first time in...

Oregon tribe proposes new name for Squaw Island (July 6, 2005)

The Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians is suggesting a new name for Squaw Island. The tribe wants the island's name changed to "Qochyax Women and Children's Island." Qochyax, pronounced "Quay-KEE-awk," means women and children. But...

Stillaguamish Tribe receives grant to clean up port (July 6, 2005)

The Stillaguamish Tribe of Washington has received a $56,000 grant to clean up Port Susan. The tribe surveyed the port and found hundreds of abandoned crab pots and gill nets. Some have been removed but money from the Russell Family...

Meskwaki mom wants son to go to non-Native family (July 6, 2005)

A member of the Meskwaki Tribe of Iowa is upset that she can't allow her son to be adopted by a non-Native couple. Kelly Buffalo says she only wants what is best for her newborn son, Braven. But she must...

McCain bashes Norquist for ripping off tribes (July 6, 2005)

Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), the chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, has been criticized by some Republicans for investigating disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Grover Norquist, head of the Americans for Tax Reform group, has said McCain is targeting...

Choctaw cash flowed freely to Ralph Reed for years (July 6, 2005)

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians was the source of most of the $4 million that Republican activist Ralph Reed used to fight gaming proposals in Alabama, Texas and other state, Seattle Weekly reports. The tribe has refused to...

Choctaws mum on donation to Christian Coalition (July 6, 2005)

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians gave $1.15 million to two anti-gambling groups in Alabama but doesn't want to talk about them. The tribe gave the money to Americans for Tax Reform. The money was then funneled to the Christian...

Pombo asks DOJ to widen investigation of Abramoff (July 6, 2005)

Rep. Richard Pombo (R-California), the chairman of the House Resources Committee, and Rep. Nick Rahall (D-West Virginia), the ranking member, have asked the Department of Justice to broaden its criminal investigation of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Pombo and Rahall want...

Choctaws billed for meals at Abramoff restaurant (July 6, 2005)

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians were billed more than $6,500 for meals at Jack Abramoff's Washington, D.C., restaurant. The tab was charged to the tribe for meals Abramoff had at Signatures. At a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing...