White House Blog: Helping small businesses in Indian Country (January 5, 2012)

"The U.S. Small Business Administration yesterday launched a new online tool that helps Native American entrepreneurs prepare for business ownership. The Native American Small Business Primer: Strategies for Success is a free online business course developed for Native American entrepreneurs...

Alternet: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe welcomes removal of dams (January 5, 2012)

"The largest dam removal project in U.S. history began in September, marking a victory for a campaign that spanned more than two decades. The Elwha Dam, built in 1914, and the Glines Canyon Dam, built in 1925, stretch across the...

Smithsonian: Totem pole arrives at NMAI from Pacific Northwest (January 5, 2012)

"“When it shows up, it looks like a log. It’s a very daunting feeling. It rolls in, and you think, ‘Oh my god. What have I decided to do?’” David Boxley, Jr., an artist and member of the Tsimshian...

UW News: Scholarship applications open for Northern Arapahos (January 5, 2012)

"The Northern Arapaho Endowment Scholarship Committee is accepting applications from full-time students for scholarship awards at the University of Wyoming. The scholarships are for the 2012 Summer Session and the 2012-2013 academic year. The deadline to submit applications is Thursday,...

Opinion: A lack of leadership over Chumash Tribe land-into-trust (January 5, 2012)

"It's odd that Doreen Farr did not attend the meeting of 600-plus people a few months ago to address the proposed annexation by the Chumash tribe of 1,400 prime acres. Even more odd is her recent guest commentary in the...

Column: Ute Tribe supports Indian imagery at Universty of Utah (January 5, 2012)

"Over the New Year's break at the University of Utah, it was out with the old and in with the ... old. Published reports on Dec. 30 (like this one on KSL.com) said it was a done deal that the...

Law Article: FCC streamlines procedure for FM in Indian Country (January 5, 2012)

"The FCC has further streamlined its procedures for encouraging federally-recognized Native American Tribes and Alaska Native Villages (“Tribes”) to obtain new FM facilities. In early 2010 the Commission established a Tribal Priority intended to enable Tribes to provide radio service...

Opinion: Some thoughts on detention facilities in Indian Country (January 5, 2012)

"I joined Justice Solutions Group (JSG) two years ago to see how my 44 years of architectural experience might be helpful when applied to Indian Country justice center designs. While all tribes have unique cultural aspects I’ve learned that a...

Column: An apology to parasites for Jack Abramoff comparison (January 5, 2012)

"In the middle of the aughts, you’ll remember, Republicans had run basically every branch of elected federal government, and George W. Bush had just won re-election over a John Kerry. At the time, a lobbying scandal was just starting to...

Samson Cree Nation backs law aimed at ousting gang members (January 5, 2012)

Members of the Samson Cree Nation of Alberta voted 479-370 in favor of a bylaw aimed at banishing gang members from the reserve. Authorities say as many as a dozen gangs operate on and near the reserve. Gangs have been...

BIA extends comment period for Shakopee Tribe land-into-trust (January 5, 2012)

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is giving officials in Shakopee, Minnesota, more time to comment on a land-into-trust application submitted by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. The city wanted more time because it just swore in Mayor Brad Tabke and...

MPBN: David Slagger, Maliseet, is sworn in to Maine Legislature (January 5, 2012)

"As Governor Paul LePage (R) swore in the newest member of Maine's 125th Legislature in the Cabinet room at the State House Wednesday morning, a number of tribal representatives looked on. David Slagger - Maine's first ever Maliseet legislator...

Blog: Interview with Adam Beach about Natives and Hollywood (January 5, 2012)

"CBC's winter season is about to start and they asked me to come in and chat with some of their stars. Adam Beach is a familiar face on both sides of the border, with am impressive resume ranging from North...

Cherokee Nation seeks gag order in ICWA dispute making news (January 5, 2012)

The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is seeking a gag order in an ongoing Indian Child Welfare Act case that is making national headlines. Dusten Brown, a tribal member, took custody of his two-year-old daughter, Veronica Maldonado, on New Year's Eve....

Navajo Nation aims to combat rising number of HIV/AIDS cases (January 5, 2012)

The Navajo Nation sees about 35 new cases of HIV/AIDS every year, about three times the number of cases about a decade ago, The Los Angeles Times reports. The first cases were gay and bisexual men who contracted the virus...

Column: Canadian government failing to protect Native women (January 5, 2012)

"Three days before the House of Commons rose for its Christmas recess, a parliamentary committee quietly tabled a shocking report. It was called Ending Violence Against Aboriginal Women and Girls. But it wasn’t a plan of action. It wasn’t even...

Progress reported as Blackfeet Nation battles two big wildfires (January 5, 2012)

The Blackfeet Nation of Montana declared a state of emergency on Wednesday in response to two large wildfires on the reservation. Fanned by strong winds, the fires have burned over 10,000 acres. But crews appeared to be gaining control thanks...

Madeline Roanhorse: Elimination of mining funding hurts tribes (January 5, 2012)

"Two weeks ago, the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Super Committee) failed to meet its legislative mandate of cutting $1.2 trillion from federal spending over 10 years. This past August, President Obama proposed to eliminate payments to certified Indian...

Billy Frank: Treaty tribes commit to co-management of salmon (January 5, 2012)

"I’m starting to wonder if Washington state’s budget problems mean it will no longer be able to co-manage natural resources with the treaty tribes. Even President Obama has said recently that the state’s budget crisis is a “huge problem.” Like...

Native Sun News: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe could lose bison (January 5, 2012)

Once roaming the Great Plains in the millions, the American bison, or tatanka, was nearly wiped out by European invaders of the North American continent. There are now only around 500,000 of these magnificent creatures in all of North...