Yellow Bird: A rainbow of colors in political system (June 13, 2006)

"I know the meaning of color is important to many tribes. For example, most Plains tribes have color indications for the four directions. I should add that if you ask one Native person, he might say it's red for west,...

Oneida Nation backs Packers Walk of Legends (June 13, 2006)

The Oneida Nation of Wisconsin announced its sponsorship of the Green Bay Packers Walk of Legends. The display will feature 24 monuments to honor 12 star Packer players and highlight 12 eras in Packer history. It is located outside...

Onondaga leader worried about future of land claim (June 13, 2006)

The spiritual leader of the Onondaga Nation of New York is worried that the tribe's recently filed land claim will be thrown out of court. "The courts don't look too good," Tadadaho Sid Hill said at a forum, The Syracuse...

Cherokee Nation to vote on blood quantum change (June 13, 2006)

The Cherokee Nation council approved a constitutional amendment to require Indian blood for citizenship. Voters will be asked to amend the constitution to keep out Freedmen who cannot show they have Indian blood. Currently, citizenship is open to anyone --...

Mashantucket Tribe wants to build retreat center (June 13, 2006)

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation wants to build a private retreat center in Pomfret, Connecticut. The tribe owns 145 acres in the town. The land is not held in trust. To pave the way for the retreat center, the tribe...

City approves $42M deal with Muckleshoot Tribe (June 13, 2006)

The Seattle, Washington, city council approved a $42 million land and hunting rights deal with the Muckleshoot Tribe. The settlement was reached in April. It requires the city to limit its use of water on the Cedar River, transfer 1,200...

Educators gather for Indian conference in Billings (June 13, 2006)

A two-day conference at Montana State University in Billings is aimed at helping educators fulfill the state's Indian Education For All Act. All public schools are required to teach about Indian culture and history under the act. The Indian Education...

New Mexico court affirms tribe's immunity (June 13, 2006)

The New Mexico Court of Appeals has upheld the sovereign immunity of Ohkay Owingeh, formerly known as San Juan Pueblo. The former executive director of the tribe's gaming commission sued after he was terminated. But the tribal court dismissed the...

Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial seeks more money (June 13, 2006)

Organizers of the 85th annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial are seeking $15,000 from the city council. The Ceremonial Association has been struggling to make ends meet. Organizers hope a contribution from the city will help raise attendance at the event....

Navajo man attacked by white males in Farmington (June 13, 2006)

A 46-year-old Navajo man in Farmington, New Mexico, said he was attacked by three white males who yelled racial slurs. William Blackie said he was picked up by the three men in their pickup. He said they offered him a...

U.S. Supreme Court intervenes in Native Hawaiian case (June 13, 2006)

Native Hawaiians suffered a big political defeat last week but the U.S. Supreme Court offered some legal hope for the sovereignty movement on Monday. Just days after the Senate killed the Native Hawaiian recognition bill, the justices intervened in a...

Aboriginal boys, ages 10 and 6, take car for long drive (June 13, 2006)

Two Australian Aboriginal brothers, ages 10 and 6, were pulled over by police officers after embarking on a 76-mile journey to see their mother and grandfather. Robert Wetherall, 10, and Kevin Wetherall, 6, were at an Aboriginal gathering with...

Jury to decide on charges against ex-Bush official (June 13, 2006)

Closing arguments were held on Monday in the only Jack Abramoff case to go to trial. David Safavian, a former Bush administration official and lobbyist, is charged with lying about his ties to Abramoff. The charges stem from an overseas...

Editorial: Dirk Kempthorne arrives in Washington (June 13, 2006)

"Dirk Kempthorne's chief task as the new secretary of the interior is to resurrect his department's long tradition of responsible stewardship of the public lands. That guiding philosophy has been seriously breached only twice, during the dismal Reagan years and...

Cobell files contempt charges against Kempthorne (June 13, 2006)

The plaintiffs in the Cobell trust fund lawsuit asked a federal judge to start contempt proceedings against new Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. The plaintiffs said Kempthorne should be held responsible for computer security woes at the Interior Department. They said...

Supreme Court rejects Virginia treaty rights case (June 13, 2006)

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear the Mattaponi Tribe's treaty lawsuit against the state of Virginia. The tribe cited a 1677 treaty with the British in hopes of blocking a large reservoir on ancestral lands. But the...

New Mexico extends distance learning to reservations (June 13, 2006)

New Mexico State University is extending its distance learning program to 12 Pueblos to allow tribal members to take courses and earn degrees over the Internet. The $2 million Digital Pathways program will offer courses to Cochiti, Acoma, Laguna and...

Tim Giago: Gaming brings new wealth, new problems (June 13, 2006)

"A totally different mindset happened when the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988 exploded on the scene. The new and latest “mindset” traveled down a two-way street. It not only impacted the way non-Indians looked at the Indian people, it...

Three more South Carolina tribes seek recognition (June 13, 2006)

The South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs met last week to consider the recognition petitions of three more tribes but one group has reportedly withdrawn its application. The Croatan Pee Dee, the Piedmont American Indian Association-Lower Eastern Cherokee Nation and...

Red Lake Nation launches Internet radio station (June 13, 2006)

The Red Lake Nation in Minnesota has launched an Internet radio station. Red Lake Radio broadcasts from the home of Gary Jourdain, a tribal member better known as Rez Dawg. With $7,000 provided by the tribe, he and other volunteer...