News Archive: June 5, 2007 Archives

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June 5, 2007
Senate panel postpones transportation hearing
The Senate Indian Affairs Committee has postponed its Thursday hearing on transportation in light of the passing of Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyoming), who was vice chairman of the panel. A new date for the hearing has not been set....

Polynesians came to South America, research claims
Polynesians came to South America long before the arrival of Europeans, according to research in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Using genetic analysis and radiocarbon dating of chicken bones found in Chile, researchers proved the animal...

Executive for Alaska health consortium dies at 56
Ken Brewer, the president of the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, died unexpectedly on Saturday. He was 56. Brewer was teaching a motorcycle safety course in Juneau when he complained of dizziness and indigestion. His cause of death wasn't...

Onondaga Nation accused of tainting abuse probe
The Onondaga Nation of New York is being accused of tainting an investigation into sexual abuse at a school on the reservation. Albert Scerbo, 44, is accused of endangering the welfare of 17 girls and sexually molesting 16 of them....

UND spent $430K to defend 'Fighting Sioux' nick
The University of North Dakota has spent more than $430,000 to defend its controversial "Fighting Sioux" nickname and logo. The school sued the NCAA in order to keep using the nickname and logo during post-season tournaments. NCAA says the...

Meth use on the rise on Montana reservations
Methamphetamine use in Montana appears to be declining but reservations are seeing more and more addicts, speakers at a meth conference said on Monday. April Toineeta Flores, a former meth addict who is the coordinator for the Meth Free...

Election news from Lower Elwha, St. Regis
Two tribes have reported results of recent elections. The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe of Washington easily re-elected Francis Charles to the council. Charles also retained her post as chairwoman. In New York, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe re-elected James Ransom...

Navajo preference laws put tribal members to work
With unemployment rates high on the Navajo Nation, the tribe is making sure that tribal members are put to work at construction projects across the reservation. The Navajo Preference in Employment Act became law in the 1970s. But employment...

No candidates interested in Miss Indian Farmington
No one has signed up for the Miss Indian Farmington pageant in New Mexico. Organizers need at least two or three girls to participate in the second annual contest. But with the June 15 date approaching, they might have to...

Town narrowly approves legal fees in Pequot fight
Residents in the town of North Stonington, Connecticut, voted 38-37 to continue fighting the Mashantucket Pequot Nation over a proposed highway expansion. The town has already spent $67,838 in legal fees to challenge the project. Resident narrowly approved an additional...

Yakama Nation reaches deal with utility district
The Yakama Nation of Washington has reached an agreement with a utility district that would bring millions of dollars in payments to the tribe. Under the deal, Yakama Power, the tribe's utility, will become a purchaser for the Grant County...

Idaho appoints Indian education coordinator
Mary Jane Oatman-Wak Wak, a member of the Nez Perce Tribe, has been named coordinator of Indian education for the state of Idaho. Oatman-Wak Wak will work to improve achievement levels of Native students in public schools and will...

Wyoming names Northern Arapaho Tribe liaison
Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal (D) has named Gary Collins as the state's liaison to the Northern Arapaho Tribe. Collins is a former chairman of the tribe. "His skills in mediation and his solid background in policy will undoubtedly make him...

Column: Cayuga land claim settlement a good deal
"In April 2005, the Cayuga Indian Nation (CIN) applied to the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to have property it owned in Seneca and Cayuga counties placed into federal trust. If approved, the land will become...

Muckleshoot Tribe eyes relocation of Sonics
The Muckleshoot Tribe of Washington is drafting a proposal to relocate the Seattle Supersonics to tribal land. Tribal leaders met with Sonics owner Clay Bennett, who is considering a move of the NBA team. Although no decisions have been made,...

Rep. Jefferson indicted on corruption charges
Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-Louisiana) was indicted on 16 charges of corruption on Monday. Jefferson is accused of offering and accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. He allegedly collected $400,000, federal prosecutors said, and stood to gain...

Editorial: Cherokee Nation wrong on Freedmen
"Those who have been following this controversy know it arose because of a recent Cherokee Nation vote to divest freedmen, the descendants of African Americans who had been made citizens of the tribe, of their membership in the tribe. So...

Sen. Craig Thomas, vice chairman of Indian panel, dies at 74
The late Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyoming) with National Congress of American Indians President Joe Garcia at NCAI's 2007 winter session in Washington, D.C. Photo © NSM. Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyoming), the vice chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee,...

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