News Archive: August 2, 2007 Archives

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August 2, 2007
IHCIA reauthorization exchange on Senate floor
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota), the chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, and Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada), the majority leader, discussed the reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act on the Senate floor on Wednesday. Dorgan said he...

Man and two children dead in car fire on reservation
A man and his two children were found dead inside a burning car on the Skull Valley Goshute Reservation in Utah earlier today. The man was an Army contractor at the Dugway Proving Ground, which is located near the reservation....

Chukchansi Tribe removes nearly half from rolls
In the past year, the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians has removed nearly half of its membership from the rolls. A year ago, the tribe had 1,200 members. But only 691 are left after the tribe investigated each and...

OST can't find owners of more than $70M in trust funds
Despite increased efforts, the Office of Special Trustee still can't find the rightful owners of more than $70 million in Indian trust funds, according to a report filed in court on Wednesday. As of June 30, there were 70,704 "whereabouts...

Editorials: Sen. Stevens and corruption probe
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: "Alaskans well know the extent of Sen. Stevens’ influence in this state. Alaskans have returned him to Washington, D.C., every six years for several decades because they value what he does. Alaskans also know, without having...

Tesuque Pueblo wants site of old village protected
A recently unearthed village in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is being claimed by Tesuque Pueblo, whose leaders want the site protected. Human remains, housing structures and nearly 22,000 artifacts have been found at the village. Tesuque Gov. Charlie Dorame said...

Aquash murder defendant appeals extradition
A Canadian man accused of murdering American Indian Movement activist Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash is taking his extradition fight to Canada's Supreme Court. John Graham, a Native from the Yukon Territories, is charged in the U.S. for the slaying of Aquash...

Rep. Boren claims agreement on Cherokee funding
Rep. Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma) says he has reached an agreement to prevent the Cherokee Nation from losing funds under a federal housing bill. The House Financial Services Committee approved H.R.2895, the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act, on Tuesday. An...

Nelson Starr, 'ambassador' for First Nation, dies
Nelson Starr, the unofficial "ambassador" for the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation of Manitoba, died at the age of 71 on Monday. Along with his younger brother, Starr spent the last 15 years waving to everyone who drove on a highway...

Navajo Nation school board fires superintendent
The Navajo Nation Board of Education fired superintendent Dr. Tommy Lewis for lack of performance. Board Vice President Rebecca Benally said Lewis failed to take action to improve the tribe's education system. "We had a strategic plan that was not...

Editorial: Scholarships help Navajo students
"The quote said it all. "Always remember who you are. You are Diné," Navajo Nation Vice President Ben Shelly said. "Identify yourself as Navajo, a unique tribe. You won't lose your way. Go into this world, fill your mind with...

Canada rejects Dakota and Lakota aboriginal rights
The Dakota and Lakota people do not have aboriginal rights in Canada, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs says. The Dakota and Lakota First Nations have occupied Manitoba and Saskatchewan since at least the 18th century. But they were...

Sacred sites an issue for tribes and firefighters
Tribes in California are working with local and federal officials to ensure sacred sites are protected during wildfires. The cooperation has been a success, officials say. Artifacts and sites have been protected in nearly every major wildfire in the last...

Tribes face another deadline under Adam Walsh Act
Tribes face another deadline to comply with the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. The first deadline was July 27, 2007. Tribes had to submit a resolution to join a national sex offender registration and notice system or cede...

Column: Unanswered questions on smokeshop raid
"I was surprised to arrive at a Superior Court hearing Tuesday and learn that retired state police Col. Steven Pare had already been on the stand and testified that Governor Carcieri did not order him to withdraw troopers if they...

Pascua Yaqui chairwoman faces ethics complaint
Herminia Frias, the first woman to lead the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona, could be removed from office or face sanctions as the result of an ethics complaint. The tribal council has been meeting behind closed doors to consider a...

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe lobbies Washington
Leaders of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts were in Washington, D.C., this week to meet with federal officials. Chairman Glenn Marshall and Vice Chairman Shawn Hendricks met with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Indian Gaming Commission and...

Graham: Bill seeks to terminate Cherokee Nation
"U.S. California Congresswoman Diane E. Watson has introduced legislation (H.R. 2824) to sever U.S. relations with the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. The legislation calls for cutting all federal funding to the Cherokee Nation, until such time that the Cherokee...

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