Washington court refuses to halt tribe's utility tax (August 12, 2005)

Non-Indians who are trying to escape the jurisdiction of a Yakama Nation must continue to pay a utility tax imposed by the tribe, the Washington Supreme Court ruled on Thursday. In a unanimous decision, the court dismissed an appeal filed...

Native American population on the rise in U.S. (August 12, 2005)

More than 4.4 million people in the United States claim Native American heritage, the U.S. Census Bureau reported on Thursday. The figure represents a 7.3 percent increase from just four years ago. In 2000, the Census Bureau reported that 4.1...

Oneida Nation offers to settle land claim for $250M (August 12, 2005)

The Oneida Nation of New York has proposed to settle its land claim for $250 million, half of what was proposed two years ago, The Albany Times-Union reports. The paper said the tribe submitted a confidential documents to a federal...

Towns still fighting recognition of Eastern Pequots (August 12, 2005)

Three towns in Connecticut released a 33-page report that claims the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation is not entitled to federal recognition. Leaders in Ledyard, North Stonington and Preston weren't allowed to submit more evidence in the tribe's case. So they...

Oklahoma tribes wait for share of highway funds (August 12, 2005)

Tribes in Oklahoma are waiting for their share of federal highway funds now that the $286.4 billion transportation bill has been signed into law. Tribal officials don't know how much they will receive. The Bureau of Indian Affairs will distribute...

Trust officer responds to Chairman Frazier (August 12, 2005)

"A recent online column [by Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Chairman Harold Frazier] has the potential to do a disservice to the Indian Trust account holders of the Great Plains region by discouraging them from using the new Office of the...

Harjo: Hanging onto mascots, toys of racism (August 12, 2005)

"Most of the commentators on this issue lump 'Indian' sports references in with the bears, tigers, banana slugs, geoducks and leprechauns. They don't seem to notice that they are species hopping from humans to creatures and mythical beings, and that...

Research attempts to decipher Inca number system (August 12, 2005)

Research published in today's issue of Science attempts to decipher the unique number-writing system of the Inca people. Two Harvard University researchers analyzed 21 khipus, or assemblages of string and knots. They say the khipus represent an accounting system...

Two Native golf tournaments being held this weekend (August 12, 2005)

Two Native golf tournaments are being held in Michigan and Minnesota this weekend. The first ever Native American Cup kicks off today at the golf resort owned by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians in Michigan. Navajo/Pueblo...

Body of missing Tohono O'odham girl recovered (August 12, 2005)

The body of a 1-year-old Tohono O'odham Nation girl was found on Thursday after nine days of searching. Princess Guadalupe "Amisha" Moreno was found about 4 miles away from the spot where she was swept away by flood waters...

Action promised on First Nations University (August 12, 2005)

Government officials plan to take more action to address turmoil at the First Nations University of Canada. Federal and provincial officials have been quiet about the controversy that has affected the school in recent months. Several top executives have been...

NCAA policy on mascots praised in Montana (August 12, 2005)

The NCAA's new policy on Indian mascots is a positive step, the president and professors at Montana State University said. Wayne Stein, a professor of Native American studies and a Chippewa, said Indian mascots are racist and dehumanizing. Walter Fleming,...

NMAI kicks off three-day powwow in Washington (August 12, 2005)

Grand entry is at noon today for the National Museum of the American Indian's powwow in Washington, D.C. The three-day event is being held at the MCI Center in downtown DC. An estimated 800 dancers and musicians representing 250 tribes...

Bison donated to South Dakota tribe to get checkup (August 12, 2005)

A herd of bison that was donated to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota will get to see some old friends. The tribe accepted 100 bison from Catalina Island in California. The animals were descendants of bison that were...

Coushatta Tribe footed DeLay's trip to the opera (August 12, 2005)

The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana was charged $185,000 so that House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) could go to the opera, Timothy Noah of Slate reports. In 2000, when he was majority whip, DeLay treated some of his donors to...

Seminole Nation won't oppose FSU 'Seminoles' mascot (August 12, 2005)

The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma does not oppose the "Seminoles" mascot of Florida State University, top tribal officials said. The tribe's incoming principal chief and attorney general said statements in opposition to the mascot were not authorized. David Narcomey, a...

Campbell considers run for Colorado governor (August 12, 2005)

Retired Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colorado) said he will make a decision on whether to run for governor of Colorado within a couple of months. Campbell said he'd "have to give up a lot" to consider coming out of...

Morongo Band donates to Habitat for Humanity (August 12, 2005)

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians donated 14 tons of leftover building materials to Habitat for Humanity. The donation, worth an estimated $40,000, will be used to build homes. Materials that can't be used for construction will be sold...

A once powerful Abramoff falls quickly from grace (August 12, 2005)

Once hailed as a "rainmaker" by the media, disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff has gone from being a major player in Republican circles to spending a night in jail on fraud charges. Abramoff, a former movie producer with no legal...

Jack Abramoff, partner indicted on bank fraud charges (August 12, 2005)

Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and one of his business partners were indicted on fraud charges related to their purchase of a non-Indian casino. Abramoff and Adam Kidan were charged with five counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy....