Uphill battle to keep Native languages alive (May 31, 2005)

Linguists believe most of the approximately 40 Native languages spoke in the Midwest will die out within the next few decades. 'Unfortunately, I think it's going to be very difficult for native Midwestern languages such as Ojibwe and Potawatomi to...

Museum opens exhibit on Cherokee women (May 31, 2005)

An exhibit on Cherokee women opened at the Museum Center at Five Points in southeast Tennessee. "Cherokee Women in Legend and Daily Life" runs through August 31. It describes the role that Cherokee women have played throughout tribal history. The...

North Dakota tribe accused of neglecting cemetery (May 31, 2005)

Metis descendants say the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians has neglected a Metis cemetery in North Dakota. Over the objections of Union Nationale Metisse, a Metis group, the tribe was given control of the 10-acre site in 2001. Now...

Rosebud Sioux Tribe seeks financing for wind farm (May 31, 2005)

The Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota is seeking financing for a $42 million wind farm. The farm would provide 30 megawatts of power to the reservation. The tribe already has a 750-kilowatt wind turbine, considered the first in Indian...

Oregon college first in state to offer Native language (May 31, 2005)

Lane Community College will be the first college in the state to offer a Native language course. An anonymous donation of $1 million will be used to develop a Native language program. The school hasn't chosen which language to teach...

Bill calls for tribal consultation on BIA budget (May 31, 2005)

The Interior Department's budget process for Indian programs is due for a major overhaul under an appropriations bill making its way through Congress. Department officials have already changed how they handle the Bureau of Indian Affairs budget. House lawmakers welcomed...

Editorial: Not all 'Indian' mascots are offensive (May 31, 2005)

"The guardians of ethnic sensitivities are at it again. An NCAA review of American Indian nicknames -- the second in three years -- includes scrutiny of the Central Michigan University Chippewas. The exploration extends to 30 member universities, whose names...

Democracy Now: Gay Marriage in Native America (May 31, 2005)

Democracy Now!, a liberal-leaning radio show, examines same sex marriage in Indian Country on a segment that was broadcast today. Host Amy Goodman talked to Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. about his opposition to a bill that would outlaw...

Miss Choctaws say gaming cash not used to lobby (May 31, 2005)

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians spends millions on lobbying but none of that money comes from the tribe's successful gaming operation, an official said. The unnamed official said the tribe keeps its gaming cash separate from its non-gaming...

High rate of problem gambling among Indian veterans (May 31, 2005)

American Indian veterans are more likely to be problem gamblers than their Hispanic and non-Indian counterparts, according to a study published this month. Based on a survey of hundreds of veterans in two different regions of the country, researchers came...

Nevada tribe honors veterans in special ceremony (May 31, 2005)

The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of Nevada paid tribute to its veterans in a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday. The tribe held a potluck dinner to honor tribal members who have served in wars. Special focus this year was made...

Tim Giago: First revolutionary was a Native man (May 31, 2005)

"In the year 1680 the immigrant Pilgrims and other settlers (called invaders by the indigenous people) were getting a toehold on the eastern seaboard of this continent. The Spaniards and Portuguese already had a head start. The Spaniards had...

Arizona tribe imposes fines for students who skip (May 31, 2005)

The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation of Arizona is taking a strong stance against students who skip class or turn up late for school and the effort appears to be working. In 2002, the tribe's education department started imposing a minimum...

Rep. Tom Cole is a Native American millionaire (May 31, 2005)

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), the only Native American in Congress, is a millionaire, according to a recent financial disclosure. Cole, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, listed assets between $1.2 million and $4.1 million in his annual disclosure. He listed...

'Into the West' series to debut next week on TNT (May 31, 2005)

"Into the West," a series about the lives of an Indian and non-Indian family will debut next week, June 10, on Turner Network Television. The 12-hour series seeks to show the perspectives of a Lakota family and a white family...

Frank LaMere: State needs to address Whiteclay (May 31, 2005)

"As a Native American and a Nebraskan long associated with efforts to focus public attention on the situation at Whiteclay, I applaud the Lincoln Journal Star for its recent set of articles and editorials addressing the issues there. The articles...

Lakota soldier returns to Vietnam for first time (May 31, 2005)

Francis Whitebird, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe who served two tours of duty in the Vietnam War, returned to the country for the first time to observe the 30th anniversary of the end of fighting. Whitebird was a...

Navajo leaders take part in Memorial Day ride (May 31, 2005)

A delegation of Navajo Nation officials took part in the annual Rolling Thunder Ride to Washington, D.C., to call attention to the needs of veterans. Navajo Nation Vice President Frank Dayish and several Navajo Nation Council delegates joined the 2,500-mile...

Hundreds turn out for White Earth memorial walk (May 31, 2005)

An estimated 200 people took part in the annual Memorial Day walk on the White Earth Ojibwe Reservation in Minnesota. The walk began several years ago after elders wanted to call attention to the deaths of five young people...

Mediator named in residential school abuse case (May 31, 2005)

The government of Canada signed an agreement with the Assembly of First Nations on Monday aimed at settling abuse claims by former residential school students. Former Supreme Court Justice Frank Iacobucci will mediate the dispute and recommend resolution of more...