News Archive: July 20, 2007 Archives

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July 20, 2007
Court upholds Narragansett land-into-trust
The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld the right of the Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island to follow the land-into-trust process. By a 4-2 vote, an en banc panel of the court said nothing in federal law bars the...

Senate committee renews focus with new vice chair
INDIANZ.COM LISTENING LOUNGE• Business Meeting/Sen. Murkowski • Opening Statements Note: Due to a technical glitch on the Senate's side, Sen. Dorgan and Sen. Murkowski were cut off. The audio comes back for parts of Sen. Tester's statement. • Panel...

Senate committee tackles Indian housing woes
INDIANZ.COM LISTENING LOUNGE• Business Meeting/Sen. Murkowski • Opening Statements Note: Due to a technical glitch on the Senate's side, Sen. Dorgan and Sen. Murkowski were cut off. The audio comes back for parts of Sen. Tester's statement. • Panel...

Man who robbed Crow store seeks more prison time
A man who pleaded guilty to robbing a store on the Crow Reservation in Montana made an unusual request at his sentencing hearing on Wednesday. Murray Dean McKay faced up to a year for his April 2005 crime. But he...

First Nation wants to handle eagle poaching cases
The Sto:lo First Nation in British Columbia wants several band members who are accused of poaching eagles to be tried in tribal court. A total of 15 people were charged in connection with the massive slaughter of eagles. The...

Missing Native teen found dead after 10 months
A 19-year-old Native girl who went missing last September has been found dead in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Marie Lasas was known to friends as "kokum," a Native word for grandmother. Despite her young age, people said she was always protective...

Tex Hall: Contracting under attack in Congress
"Some in Congress are engaged in a full frontal assault on Indian country by advancing legislation that would limit, or eliminate altogether, the participation of Alaska Native Corporations and Indian tribes in the Small Business Administration 8(a) program. ANCs, congressionally...

10th Circuit rejects Navajo court jurisdiction
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday refused to enforce a Navajo Nation court decision, citing the tribe's lack of jurisdiction in a long-running employment dispute. The state of Utah operated a state-owned health clinic within the boundaries of...

Opinion: Cherokee citizenship more than just blood
"True definition of American Indians gets complicated Our nation abounds in debates about race, identity, citizenship, ethnicity and nationality. American Indians are part of that debate and many issues in the nation today impact the definition of what constitutes...

Yaqui Chairwoman: Tribe committed to education
"The Star's editorial ("TUSD's plan for Pascua kids is a good start," July 17) was misleading. The Pascua Yaqui Tribe is committed to ensuring that our children receive a high-quality education in a safe and nurturing environment. The tribe devotes...

Maine tribes share concerns with governor
Leaders of four Maine tribes met with Gov. John Baldacci (D) on Thursday to discuss economic development, education and other issues. The 2007 Annual Assembly of Governors and Chiefs brought the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, and Maliseet tribes and state officials...

Eastern Cherokees address housing needs
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina is finishing construction on a housing development and has two more projects in the works. The first phase of a 40-unit townhouse development opens next month. With easy to maintain units...

Letter: Northern Cheyenne leaders embarrass tribe
"I am so disgusted and ashamed by the latest antics of our "supposed" leadership. What does this say to our people, the youth, our children? That it's OK to settle our differences with violence? Isn't it enough that we already...

Obama promises new era of federal-tribal relations
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Illinois), a Democratic candidate for president, plans to meet with tribal leaders in the coming months to discuss his federal Indian policy. In a letter sent to tribal leaders, Obama says the federal government has neglected its...

DOI reviews decisions by official who broke rules
The Interior Department is reviewing up to 10 decisions made by a former official who resigned in May after an international investigation showed she broke federal rules, the Associated Press reports. Julie MacDonald was the deputy assistant secretary for fish,...

FEMA trailers contaminated by toxic formaldehyde
Trailers used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the wake of Hurricane Katrina are contaminated by high levels of formaldehyde, a cancer-causing gas. FEMA knew of the toxic gas but rejected further tests even after a man died...

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