Fire Thunder defends views on state abortion law (October 17, 2006)

Cecilia Fire Thunder usually visits Washington, D.C., to lobby federal officials and members of Congress on tribal issues. A talk with Republican Sen. John Thune or a meeting at the Bureau of Indian Affairs are often on her agenda. But...

Pala Band to pay $695K to settle dumping dispute (October 17, 2006)

The Pala Band of Mission Indians has agreed to pay a total of $695,000 to settle a dispute over the dumping of materials on the reservation. The tribe will pay $545,000 to The Nature Conservancy and about $150,000 to the...

Judge issues ruling in Arapaho eagle killing case (October 17, 2006)

A federal judge who dismissed charges against a Northern Arapaho man who killed an eagle without a permit said the United States has an obligation to accommodate tribal religious rights. In a 12-page decision [PDF], U.S. District Judge William Downes...

Onondaga man seeks deal for fatal hit-run accident (October 17, 2006)

Houston H. Rockwell, an 18-year-old member of the Onondaga Nation of New York, is seeking a deal for a fatal hit-and-run accident. Rockwell turned himself in to face charges of leaving the scene of an accident. He allegedly hit Tom...

Montana man gets 80 years for death of transient (October 17, 2006)

A 20-year-old Montana man was sentenced to 80 years in prison for the stabbing death of a transient on the streets of Billings. Rusty Lee Ray Russell was 18 at the time of the April 26, 2005, attack. He...

Letter on reservation poverty draws most comments (October 17, 2006)

A letter from a woman on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana has drawn the most comments on The Billings Gazette website. Eva Lame Woman of Lame Deer wrote about poverty. She said reservation communities don't receive enough assistance. "Every...

Lawyers in Native abuse case due another $10M (October 17, 2006)

The Canadian government has promised attorneys an additional payment of up to $10 million for their work on the Native residential school abuse settlement. The attorneys already stand to gain upwards of $100 million. One law firm alone could get...

Court to hear Yakama tobacco smuggling case (October 17, 2006)

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments today in a tobacco smuggling case involving two members of the Yakama Nation of Washington. Harry Smiskin, 55, and his 31-year-old son, Kato Smiskin were charged with violating federal law. They...

Adam Beach wins 'Rising Star' award for 'Flags' role (October 17, 2006)

Native actor Adam Beach is already earning accolades for his portrayal of Pima soldier Ira Hayes in "Flags of Our Fathers." Beach, a member of the Saulteaux First Nation of Manitoba, will receive the Rising Star Award at the...

Navajo soldiers honored after tours of duty in Iraq (October 17, 2006)

Two members of the Navajo Nation were honored over the weekend for their service in the U.S. military. Army Staff Sgt. Steven Cole, 23, came home after his third tour of duty in Iraq. He was honored at a...

Zuni man sentenced for hit-run death of Yaqui man (October 17, 2006)

Clybert Peyketewa, a member of the Zuni Tribe of New Mexico, was sentenced to a year in prison for the hit-and-run death of Richard B. Bejarano, a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona. The accident occurred in Tucson,...

Indian teen recovers at alcohol treatment center (October 17, 2006)

Shaloe Red Eagle, a 17-year-old from the Red Lake Reservation in Minnesota, has spent the last month at an alcohol treatment center in South Dakota. Red Eagle had her first drink when she was 12. She soon found herself...

Treatment of Native inmates a 'national disgrace' (October 17, 2006)

Native inmates are routinely subjected to discrimination in Canada's prison system, the ombudsman for government prisons said in a report on Monday. According to correctional investigator Howard Sapers, Native inmates are routinely classified as "higher risk" than non-Natives, are released...

Non-Indian convicted in Red Lake Nation court (October 17, 2006)

A non-Indian was convicted on Red Lake Nation court for trespassing. Jerry Mueller says he accidentally wandered onto Red Lake waters. His boat and fishing gear were seized by tribal police. Mueller's son-in-law, Jonathan Hempstead, was also involved. He pleaded...

War in Iraq reaches Alaska Native community (October 17, 2006)

The war in Iraq has reached the Inupiat Eskimo community of Barrow, located on the northern tip of Alaska. Staff Sgt. Billy Brown was 54. He volunteered to lead his National Guard detachment to Iraq after Alaska Native guardsmen,...

Navajo president delivers last State of the Nation (October 17, 2006)

Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. gave the last State of the Nation of his current term. Shirley touted some of the successes of his administration. They include the signing of a land agreement with the Hopi Tribe, a water...

Doolittle paid $38K to lawyer for Abramoff probe (October 17, 2006)

Rep. John Doolittle (R-California) has paid more than $38,000 to an attorney who has been talking with the Department of Justice. Doolittle is under scrutiny for his ties to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. But he insists he isn't a target...

Tim Giago: White media ignores Indian contributions (October 17, 2006)

"For more than 100 years the white editors of the largely white owned media in the State of South Dakota, have had the freedom and the opportunity to push the state governor and legislators to create a Native American Day...