Native Sun News: Lakota protest set at Wizard of Oz performance (February 9, 2011)

The following story was written and reported by Evelyn Broecher. All content © Native Sun News. RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA — The United Urban Warrior Society will conduct a peaceful protest this week at the Civic Center’s presentation of The...

Navajo man named to White House Intergovernmental Affairs job (February 9, 2011)

The White House has named Charles Galbraith, a member of the Navajo Nation, as Deputy Associate Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. Galbraith will work with tribal governments in his new position. He replaces Jodi Gillette, who is now...

Senate Indian Affairs Committee schedules first business meeting (February 9, 2011)

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee is holding its first business meeting of the 112th Congress next Wednesday, February 16. At the meeting, the committee will formalize the selection of Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) as chairman and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming)...

Opinion: Native Americans 'morally disqualified' from owning land (February 9, 2011)

"In all the discussions about the European settlement of the New World, one feature has been conspicuously absent: the role that the superstition, savagery and sexual immorality of native Americans played in making them morally disqualified from sovereign control of...

Judge rules for Navajo Nation in domestic violence shelter case (February 9, 2011)

A judge for the Navajo Nation sided with the tribe in a dispute over a domestic violence shelter that's under construction on the New Mexico portion of the reservation. Shiprock District Court Judge Genevieve Woody ruled that the tribe...

Judge awards Alaska Native family $4.9M for breach of trust case (February 9, 2011)

A federal judge says the federal government owes an Alaska Native family $4.9 million in a breach of trust case. Judge Nancy Firestone of the Court of Federal Claims previously ruled that the Bureau of Indian Affairs breached its trust...

NCAI president says 'politics' behind opposition to Arvo Mikkanen (February 9, 2011)

National Congress of American Indians President Jefferson Keel said "politics" is behind opposition to the nomination of Arvo Mikkanen, a member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, to the federal bench. Keel said Mikkanen, a longtime federal prosecutor, is...

San Manuel Band makes largest-ever donation to cancer center (February 9, 2011)

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has donated $3 million to the Loma Linda University Cancer Center in California. The donation is the largest in the center's history. The money will be used to develop a new oncology center...

Sen. Paul proposes to eliminate all funding for BIA, cut IHS in half (February 9, 2011)

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), a new member of Congress, wants to get rid of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and cut the Indian Health Service budget in half. Paul, who was supported by the Tea Party, introduced S.162, the Cut...

Federal prosecutor says office won't refuse Indian Country cases (February 9, 2011)

The U.S. Attorney's Office for Western North Carolina won't decline Indian Country cases unless they are out of jurisdiction or are bad cases, according to a federal prosecutor. The office handles cases from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the...

Bois Forte Band ready to break ground on $4.7M housing project (February 9, 2011)

The Bois Forte Band Indians in Minnesota expects to break ground this spring on a $4.7 million housing project. The project will include 12 duplex houses and an eight-unit apartment building. Chairman Kevin Leecy said the project will alleviate homelessness...

St. Regis Mohawk Tribe in talks over town's case against business (February 9, 2011)

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe of New York is in talks with the town of Fort Covington in a case against a business owned by a tribal member. The town claims Twin Leaf Express is violating local building codes. But...

Ute woman from Colorado a percussionist on Saturday Night Live (February 9, 2011)

Valerie Dee Naranjo, a Ute woman from Colorado, is the percussionist for the Saturday Night Live band on NBC. Naranjo's heritage inspired to play drums and other instruments. "I was fortunate to grow up with the traditions I did," her...

Washoe Tribe reaches agreement for access to nature preserve (February 9, 2011)

The Washoe Tribe has signed an agreement to maintain access to a traditional gathering site in Nevada. Tribal members will be able to gather medicinal and utilitarian plants at the River Fork Ranch Preserve. The 805-acre site is owned by...

California moving to allow tribal access at marine preserve sites (February 9, 2011)

The California Fish and Game Commission is moving to allow tribes to gain access to marine preserves. Tribes were left out of the Marine Life Protection Act of 1999. But for the first time, the commission has granted an exception...

Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe using EPA grant to clean up wetlands (February 9, 2011)

The Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe of Washington is cleaning up Point Julia, an historic village and wetlands on the reservation. The tribe occupied Point Julia before being forced to relocate in 1939. The site is still used for ceremonies and...

Counties submit final arguments over Oneida Nation foreclosure (February 9, 2011)

Briefing is complete from the parties in the Oneida Nation foreclosure case. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals put the case on the fast track after receiving it from the U.S. Supreme Court. Oral arguments have not been set but...

Coeur d'Alene Tribe discovers remains in burned boarding school (February 9, 2011)

The Coeur d'Alene Tribe of Idaho discovered human remains at the site of a former boarding school that was destroyed in a fire last week. Tribal police were sifting through the debris at the old Sisters of Charity of Providence...