Opinion: Symposium focuses on Boarding School Healing (May 17, 2011)

"“I was beaten with a leather strap from my ankles up to my back [for attempting to run away]. I can remember how the ex-sergeant, [turned priest,] would still wear his army boots under his robe . . . he...

UN News: 10th annual forum on indigenous peoples opens (May 17, 2011)

"The annual United Nations forum aimed at advancing the rights of the estimated 370 million indigenous persons around the world opened today with a call to turn those rights into a practical reality. More than 1,300 delegates are expected to...

Blog: National Museum of American Indian expanding cafe (May 17, 2011)

"The Mitsitam Cafe, which has been a destination within the National Museum of the American Indian for all kinds of foodies, is expanding. By closing the first floor gift shop, the museum reclaimed enough space to add 38 new seats....

BIA bars appeal from disputed Cheyenne-Arapaho leader (May 17, 2011)

The Bureau of Indian Affairs won't let the disputed leader of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma appeal a decision that could lead to her ouster. On March 28, the BIA recognized the tribal Supreme Court, whose justices removed...

Kim Teehee at UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (May 17, 2011)

Kim Teehee, the Senior Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs at the White House, spoke at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues this morning. "Recognizing the important role of the UN Permanent Forum, the United States chose last...

Billy Frank: Squaxin Island Tribe looking to preserve water (May 17, 2011)

"A basic rule of natural resources management today is that you don’t take too much of something unless you have a good idea how much there is to begin with. That was the point behind the Squaxin Island Tribe’s effort...

$40M bond package for Oklahoma Indian museum revised (May 17, 2011)

A $40 million bond package for the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma has been revised. Senate Bill 985 authorizes bond sales of $12 million one year, followed by bond sales of $8 million and $20 million. The...

Dennis Banks raising diabetes awareness on Longest Walk (May 17, 2011)

Activist Dennis Banks has spent most of his life fighting for Indian rights and now he's fighting a potentially bigger threat in Indian Country: diabetes. Banks, 75, has been diagnosed with the disease. He has made major changes in his...

Salish and Kootenai Tribes investigating shooting of grizzly (May 17, 2011)

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana are investigating the shooting of a female grizzly bear. A landowner shot the bear on Saturday. The animal was apparently after chickens. "There is a huge increase in chicken production in the...

Iris Anderson, mother of 'Famous' Dave Anderson, passes (May 17, 2011)

Left to right: James Anderson, Dave Anderson, Iris Anderson, Rick St. Germaine, Rebecca St. Germaine, Fern Diamond, Phillip Anderson. Photo courtesy Dave Anderson. Iris Anderson, the mother of entrepreneur "Famous" Dave Anderson, died this morning. Iris Anderson, a former...

Committee eases tension between urban Indians, Somalis (May 17, 2011)

Urban Indians in Minneapolis, Minnesota, are reaching out to Somali immigrants in hopes of easing tension between their communities. Urban Indians and Somalis are neighbors in the East Phillips neighborhood. Youth from each side have been involved in clashes, with...

North American Indigenous Games lands in Regina in 2014 (May 17, 2011)

The North American Indigenous Games will take place in Regina, Saskatchewan, in 2014. Regina beat out two other communities for the event, which is expected to attract 10,000 to the city. "We put a lot of work into it. It's...

Navajo Nation man sentenced to 25 years in brutal murder (May 17, 2011)

A Navajo Nation man was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for murdering a woman on the New Mexico portion of the reservation. Patrick Baptiste, 51, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He admitted he punched Kathleen Francisco, 71,...

Sen. Kyl seeks lower cost for tribal water rights settlement (May 17, 2011)

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Arizona) is asking the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe and other entities to lower the cost of a major water rights settlement. The price tag for the settlement has been placed at around $800 million. Kyl says...

Jicarilla Apache Nation to negotiate costs of water system (May 17, 2011)

The Jicarilla Apache Nation of New Mexico is negotiating the costs of a water system with the Bureau of Reclamation. As part of a water rights settlement with the Navajo Nation, the federal government agreed to the $870 million Navajo-Gallup...

Chickasaw Nation opens research and preservation center (May 17, 2011)

The Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma will open its new research and preservation center on May 28. The Holisso Center is located at the Chickasaw Nation Cultural Center in Sulphur. The 20,000-square-foot facility will act as a repository for tribal documents,...

Kevin Abourezk: Santee Sioux teen helps manage rez dogs (May 17, 2011)

"Lila Mechaley knows wild dogs are a problem on the Santee Sioux Reservation. And despite her tribe's efforts to control feral dogs, she knows the Santee could use some support. Madeline McAlister wants to help. The Lincoln High School senior...

Choctaw Nation to hold election for chief, council on July 9 (May 17, 2011)

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma will hold an election for principal chief and six tribal council seats on July 9. Chief Greg Pyle is running for re-election. As in most previous years, no other candidate has filed for the office....

Valerie Taliman: Indigenous leaders seek justice before UN (May 17, 2011)

"When indigenous leaders first visited the United Nations offices in Geneva, Switzerland in 1977, they were seeking justice and a fair forum for the many treaty and human-rights violations being committed against Native peoples by the governments that had colonized...

Native Sun News: Naca Wopila honors five Indian leaders (May 17, 2011)

The following story was written and reported by Evelyn Red Lodge, with photos by Evelyn Red Lodge and Monique Mackey. All content © Native Sun News. Delores Riley, Shirley Lewis, Elizabeth Cook Lynn, Tim Giago, Thomas Short Bull all standing....

Doug George-Kanentiio: On the passing of Mohawk artists (May 17, 2011)

Two of the most creative Mohawk artists of our generation have now passed into the spirit world but not before leaving a powerful legacy of their life's work. Peter Blue Cloud Willams-Aroniawenrate and Salli Benedict-Kawennotakie were exceptionally creative and gifted...

Elouise Cobell recovering after 'successful' cancer surgery (May 17, 2011)

Elouise Cobell, the lead plaintiff in the Indian trust fund lawsuit, is recovering after undergoing cancer surgery last month. Cobell, a member of the Blackfeet Nation, told the Associated Press that she had surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota...