ICT: D-Q's Middle Eastern satellite probed by FBI (March 4, 2005)

Administrators at the shuttered D-Q University set up a satellite operation of Middle Eastern students that came under an FBI probe after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Indian Country Today reports. The satellite was extremely secretive but it was...

NCAI Winter Session 2005 Wrapup: Day 3 (March 4, 2005)

The National Congress of American Indians held its annual winter session in Washington, D.C., this week. Here's a rundown of what happened on Wednesday, the final day of the conference. The Bush Tax Cut Democrats have often criticized President Bush's...

Native actor Eddie Spears answers five questions (March 4, 2005)

Eddie Spears, star of the independent "Black Cloud," answers five questions about the film and his role as a Navajo boxer. The movie was produced by Rick Schroder of "Silver Spoons" and "NYPD Blue" fame and is debuting in Connecticut...

Lamberth takes on contempt allegations in Cobell case (March 4, 2005)

The special master in the Cobell trust fund lawsuit prepared a legal opinion clearing several current and former government officials of contempt, a federal judge revealed on Thursday, but a disqualification campaign by the Bush administration and some of the...

Absentee Shawnee Tribe purchases 60 acres (March 4, 2005)

The Absentee Shawnee Tribe has purchased 60 acres of prime commercial real estate in El Reno, Oklahoma. Gov. Kenneth Blanchard said the tribe doesn't want the land placed in trust. He said the tribe hasn't decided what to do with...

Navajo police find methamphetamine in car (March 4, 2005)

Navajo Nation police seized 3-1/2 pounds of methamphetamine during a routine traffic stop on the reservation. A separate incident uncovered 5 more pounds of the drug. The police stopped a man observed weaving on a highway. Upon investigation, they discovered...

FBI still investigating Campbell corruption claims (March 4, 2005)

The FBI continues to investigate allegations of corruption within the office of former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colorado), The Denver Post reports. Campbell retired last year after the investigation started. He has said he is not a target but the...

Tribes plan own bill as Senate takes up trust reform (March 4, 2005)

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee will hold an oversight hearing on trust reform next week amid increased efforts by tribes and Congress to resolve the debacle. Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), chairman of the committee, said he wants to settle the...

Pueblo leader endorsed as new assistant secretary (March 4, 2005)

Former National Congress of American Indians president John Gonzales, of San Ildefonso Pueblo in New Mexico, is being endorsed as the new assistant secretary. Sen. Pete Domenici (R) and Reps. Steve Pearce (R) and Heather Wilson (R) sent a letter...

Three feared dead in fire on British Columbia reserve (March 4, 2005)

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is investigating a fire on the Ulkatcho First Nation's 2 Mile Reserve in British Columbia. Three people are missing and feared dead as a result of the house fire. RCMP says there was a party...

Teen charged with murders of three people on reserve (March 4, 2005)

A 17-year-old teen appeared in court on Thursday on charges that he murdered three people on the Montreal Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. The teen is being treated as a juvenile under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. He is accused...

DeLay not worried about Abramoff's 'problems' (March 4, 2005)

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) says he isn't worried about his ties to disgraced Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff. DeLay and Abramoff have had a long relationship. Abramoff raised money for DeLay, found jobs for DeLay staffers and formed a...

Northern Cheyenne Tribe schools chief quits (March 4, 2005)

The superintendent for the schools on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana is resigning on March 15, The Billings Gazette reports. Harlan Krein told Northern Cheyenne President Eugene Little Coyote that the tribe's recent actions affecting schools are "unworkable, unethical...

Davy Crockett actor drops Chumash Tribe from plan (March 4, 2005)

Davy Crockett actor Fess Parker says he will drop his partnership with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians after residents came out against the plan. Parker and the tribe teamed up on a $250 million housing and hotel project....

Washington hotel a good fit for tribes, company (March 4, 2005)

A new tribally-financed hotel in Washington, D.C., is helping the tribes diversify their holdings and the hotel company reach out to minorities. Four Fires debuted the $43 million Residence Inn by Marriott Capitol this week. The hotel is located near...

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe acts on Si Tanka plan (March 4, 2005)

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota passed a resolution on Thursday aimed at restoring federal funds to its Si Tanka University. The resolution states that the on-reservation campus of Si Tanka is separate from the off-reservation campus. The...

Editorial: Tribe needs waste dump alternative (March 4, 2005)

"The Indians in Skull Valley are looking for a way to make money for the impoverished tribe. The tribe expects the nuclear waste facility to create 60 local jobs and provide a continuous revenue stream that will allow it to...

Mohegan Tribe to halt all aquaculture business (March 4, 2005)

The Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut will shut down its aquaculture business by September of this year. The tribe invested millions in the venture, spending $7 million over the past five years. But tribal leaders said there was no profit in...

Artist found liable for taping tribe's ceremony (March 4, 2005)

A Native artist who videotaped a ceremony of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of California has been found liable by a federal court. Lorenzo Baca, who is Pueblo and Apache, said tribal elder Brown Tadd gave him permission to...

Cowlitz Tribe offers to build NASCAR track (March 4, 2005)

The Cowlitz Tribe is offering to build a NASCAR track in southern Washington. Tribal officials met with International Speedway Corp. to discuss the idea. They hope the popularity of NASCAR events will provide an economic opportunity. The tribe, newly recognized...

Tiny species of human had advanced brain (March 4, 2005)

A tiny human ancestor that lived 18,000 years ago had a brain with characteristics found only in modern humans, researchers said in the journal Science. Seven small humans were discovered on an Indonesian island last year. Researchers who studied the...

Recall seeks ouster of pro-Abramoff leaders (March 4, 2005)

A member of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana is trying to oust three officials who supported Washington insiders Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon. Florine Pitre filed recall petitions six months ago against chairman Lovelin Poncho and council members William Worfel...

Burns promises cooperation with Abramoff probe (March 4, 2005)

Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Montana) said on Thursday he has offered to cooperate fully with the Senate Indian Affairs Committee probe of Jack Abramoff. Burns has become the target of questions after it was reported he secured a $3 million earmark...

Editorial: Who do you work for, Senator Burns? (March 4, 2005)

"Sen. Conrad Burns is in the spotlight this week after the Washington Post reported the Montana Republican helped funnel to a wealthy Indian tribe in Michigan $3 million from a federal program intended to help rebuild rundown Indian schools. Our...