Washington tribes claim mastodon bones as link to culture (May 7, 2012)

Members of Washington tribes say a set of mastodon bones that date back 13,800 years proves how their culture has survived since the ice age. Tribes and some scholars believe the bones were used to play sla-hal, a game that...

Mark Charles: Starting the conversation for US reconciliation (May 7, 2012)

During his official visit to the United States, I had the privilege of personally, and publically, addressing James Anaya, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Below is a summary of the 5 minute presentation I...

Opinion: HUD gives away taxpayer money to wealthy tribes (May 7, 2012)

"Last week the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced its giveaway of taxpayer monies — calling them “competitive grants” — in the amount of $56 million to “tribal communities” around the country, saying that the funds will...

Sam Deloria: Oppression common among indigenous peoples (May 7, 2012)

"We in the US receive billions of dollars a year in programs from the federal government; we are free to criticize that government without fear of reprisal and to sue the government (sometimes winning, sometimes not); we have a gaming...

Editorial: Mashantucket Tribe maintains a cone of silence (May 7, 2012)

"The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is doing itself no favors by failing to be forthcoming about the challenges it faces. More access to information, not less, will provide both tribal members and the greater public more confidence about the ability...

David Treuer: Elizabeth Warren rightly claims Native heritage (May 7, 2012)

"Suddenly many Americans wonder what it means that Elizabeth Warren, who is vying for Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown’s U.S. Senate seat, has identified herself as having Cherokee and Delaware Indian heritage. The claim wasn’t sudden, but the furor is. Some...

Kevin Noble Maillard: Senate candidate sees birther moment (May 7, 2012)

"If you are 1/32 Cherokee and your grandfather has high cheekbones, does that make you Native American? It depends. Last Friday, Republicans in Massachusetts questioned the racial ancestry of Elizabeth Warren, the Democratic Senate candidate. Her opponent, Senator Scott Brown,...

Gyasi Ross: An indigenous brother lost to tragedy of suicide (May 7, 2012)

"I was watching SportsCenter the other day and some news hit me right between the eyes: Junior Seau, Samoan phenom, committed suicide. Seau was always one of my favorite players for a few different reasons: 1) Seau was Samoan, and...

Chelsea Vowel: Adoption as annihilation of Native cultures (May 7, 2012)

"If you’ve heard the term 60s scoop and thought it had something to do with ice-cream in ye olden days, I’m here to enlighten you. I prefer the term stolen generations, because the scooping I’m about to discuss didn’t end...

Native Sun News: Newspaper takes home nine media awards (May 7, 2012)

The following story was written and reported by Jesse Abernathy, Native Sun News Editor. All content © Native Sun News. NSN Editor Jesse Abernathy proudly displays the first-place plaque he received for Best News Story in the South Dakota Newspaper...

Tim Giago: 'Drill baby drill' is coming soon to Indian Country (May 7, 2012)

Notes from Indian Country By Tim Giago (Nanwica Kciji) © Unitysodak1@knology.net The oil boom is coming to South Dakota, “Not if, but when,” according to those in the know, including Governor Dennis Daugaard. The apprehension for the coming explosion is...