Judge rebuffs state's attempt to impose taxes on tribe (June 2, 2005)

A state of Michigan cannot impose property taxes on the land owned by members of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday. In an 18-page opinion, U.S. District Judge David W. McKeague said the state has...

Tribal workgroup on trust reform wraps up meetings (June 2, 2005)

The final meeting of the tribal trust reform workgroup was held in Bismarck, North Dakota, on Wednesday with participants expecting legislation to fix the system and settle the Cobell lawsuit to be introduced later this month. The National Congress of...

McCaleb tells tribes to support gasoline tax hike (June 2, 2005)

Former assistant secretary Neal McCaleb, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, urged Oklahoma tribes on Wednesday to support a proposed hike in the state gasoline tax. Neal McCaleb, a former state Transportation Secretary, spoke at the 18th annual Sovereignty Symposium...

Jodi Rave: Reporting on reservations is improving (June 2, 2005)

"Fifteen years ago, a University of Montana journalism dean decided to create a news course dedicated to Native American issues. Professor Carol Van Valkenburg stood ready to teach it. Since then, Van Valkenburg has readily dispatched journalism students to the...

Another Oklahoma tribe's out-of-state bid rejected (June 2, 2005)

The Ottawa Tribe is the latest in a string of Oklahoma tribes whose claims to out-of-state land have been rejected. Citing an 1805 treaty, the tribe notified the state of Ohio of its claim to 350 acres on North Bass...

Norton defends Myers' record as Interior solicitor (June 2, 2005)

Controversial appeals court nominee Bill Myers didn't make any "policy" decisions as the Interior Department's former top lawyer, he just interpreted the law, Secretary Gale Norton said. "When the solicitor makes a decision for the Department of the Interior,...

Saginaw Chippewa recall fight over Abramoff continues (June 2, 2005)

An effort to recall leaders of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe who fired lobbyist Jack Abramoff is continuing in Michigan. A group of tribal members are upset over the way four council members handled the Abramoff scandal. So they have been...

Northern Cheyenne members speak out against drilling (June 2, 2005)

Members of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana spoke out against coalbed methane development at a public hearing on Wednesday. Most of the more than 20 people who spoke were tribal members, The Billings Gazette reported. They said coalbed drilling...

Crow Legislature approves oil and gas development (June 2, 2005)

The Crow Tribe's Legislature approved an oil and gas development agreement by a 16-1 vote on Wednesday. The deal with Alliance Energy still needs the signature of Crow Chairman Carl Venne and the Bureau of Indian Affairs' approval. It covers...

Tribal judge arrested in drug raid was under scrutiny (June 2, 2005)

A tribal court judge who was arrested in what authorities said was the largest drug bust in the history of the Wind River Reservation had already raised the eyebrows of her boss. Wind River Chief Judge John St. Clair said...

Ponca chief won't appear on Nebraska state quarter (June 2, 2005)

Tribal members in Nebraska criticized Gov. Dave Heineman (R) on Wednesday for not picking Ponca Chief Standing Bear to appear on the state quarter. "My heart is broken," Donna Wendzillo, a member of the Ponca Tribe, told The Lincoln...

Tribe to put up stations to limit entry to reservation (June 2, 2005)

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians plan to put up checkpoint stations to limit entry to the tribe's reservation in southern California. Tribal officials hope the checkpoints will reduce illegal dumping of trash and animals on the reservation. They are...

Chippewa Cree Tribe and city hold joint council session (June 2, 2005)

The Chippewa Cree Tribe of Montana and the city of Havre met in a joint council session on Tuesday and pledged to work together on common issues. Participants said the main topics of the meeting were cooperation, economic development and...

Washington tribes, farmers agree to protect salmon (June 2, 2005)

Two Washington tribes have signed agreements with farmers groups aimed at protecting salmon and farmland. In the first agreement, the Swinomish Tribe and the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe and four farmers groups formed the Skagit Tribal/Agricultural Alliance. The tribes and farmers...

Judge sides with Miccosukee Tribe on Everglades (June 2, 2005)

A federal judge sided with the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida on Wednesday, ruling that the state and the federal government violated an agreement to keep the Everglades clean. U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno said the state has repeatedly exceeded phosphorus...

Makah Nation: Our right to whaling is being denied (June 2, 2005)

"The Makah Tribe recently observed the 150th anniversary of our treaty with the U.S. government. One essential component of this solemn observance was missing: whale meat. That's because our right to harvest whales is systematically being denied purely on...

Pokagon man who led tribe's recognition fight dies (June 2, 2005)

Joseph R. Winchester, the former chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians from Michigan, died on Sunday from natural causes. He was 78. Winchester led the tribe's fight to gain federal recognition. Since the 1930s, the Bureau of...

Jena Band cites Abramoff in lawsuit against state (June 2, 2005)

The Jena Band of Choctaw Indians filed suit against the state of Louisiana on Wednesday, accusing politicians of conspiring with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff to block a proposed casino. The lawsuit cites freshman Sen. David Vitter (R-Louisiana), who began fighting...

Kickapoo chairman calls himself 'Superman' (June 2, 2005)

After surviving an ouster attempt, Kickapoo Tribe Chairman Tony Salazar has taken on a new nickname, The Oklahoma Gazette reports. It's "Superman." The Superman symbol is everywhere Salazar goes, the weekly newspaper says. It's on his business cards. It's...

Schwarzenegger issues plan to curb global warming (June 2, 2005)

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) issued a plan on Wednesday aimed at curbing the greenhouse gas emissions believed to contribute to global warming. Schwarzenegger said global warming is a real threat and must be attacked. "I say the debate is...

Red Lake Nation helps dedicate family treatment center (June 2, 2005)

The Red Lake Nation of Minnesota joined in the dedication of a new center to provide treatment to victims of child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence. The Family Advocacy Center of Northern Minnesota is "a place of healing"...

Judge unseals document in Red Lake criminal case (June 2, 2005)

A federal judge on Tuesday unsealed a document in the case of Louis Jourdain, 16, the only person known to have been charged in connection with the March 21, 2005, shooting on the Red Lake Ojibwe Reservation in Minnesota. U.S....