IHS reprimands employee who warned about Spirit Lake children (July 30, 2012)

The Indian Health Service has reprimanded an employe who raised concerns about the welfare of children on the Spirit Lake Dakotah Nation in North Dakota, The Fargo Forum reports. Michael Tilus, a clinical psychologist, was removed from his post as...

September trial scheduled for murders of two Spirit Lake siblings (July 30, 2012)

A man accused of murdering two children on the Spirit Lake Dakotah Nation in North Dakota is due to go to trial on September 23. Valentino “Tino” James Bagola, 19, faces two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of...

Nez Perce Tribe donates $3M to NARF for work on trust fund case (July 30, 2012)

The Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho donated $3 million to the Native American Rights Fund, the single largest donation in the organization's 40-year history. NARF represented the tribe in its trust fund lawsuit. The Obama administration settled the case...

President Obama signs Indian housing bill to law at White House (July 30, 2012)

President Barack Obama signs H.R. 205, the HEARTH Act of 2012, in the Oval Office, July 30, 2012. Standing behind the President, from left, are: Bryan Newland, Senior Policy Advisor at the Department of the Interior; Governor Randall Vicente,...

Jodi Gillette: Strengthening tribal communities with HEARTH Act (July 30, 2012)

"President Obama understands that by allowing greater tribal control over tribal assets, we encourage economic growth, promote community development in Indian Country, and support tribal self-determination. That’s why this Administration is committed to strengthening tribal communities by improving tribal governments’...

DC Circuit set to hear appeal in one Cherokee Freedmen lawsuit (July 30, 2012)

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals is set to hear oral arguments on October 18 in Vann v. Salazar, a Cherokee Freedmen case. Marilyn Vann, the president of the Descendants Of Freedmen Of The Five Civilized Tribes sued the Interior...

Health care reform act provides many benefits in Indian Country (July 30, 2012)

The Affordable Care Act, the landmark health care reform law, includes many benefits for Indian Country. The biggest is a permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. Tribes had lobbied Congress for more than a decade to pass...

Santa Clara Pueblo gets $11M in long-awaited emergency funds (July 30, 2012)

Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico has received $11 million in long-awaited emergency funds. The Los Conchas Fire burned 16,000 acres of the reservation a year ago. Since then, there's been two floods, leaving the tribe in constant danger...

Turtle Talk Poll: The best federal circuit courts for tribal interests (July 30, 2012)

"It’s been a long time since we had a TT poll, so how about this? What is the best federal appellate circuit for tribal interests? We already know the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits get the vast majority of the...

Border Patrol discovers rare items near Tohono O'odham Nation (July 30, 2012)

U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered several rare pots on federal land near the Tohono O'odham Nation in Arizona. The reddish-brown pots were found intact and were well preserved. They were likely used to store food and water. "This is a...

Kevin Abourezk: Nebraska tribes look to rebuild their economies (July 30, 2012)

"The Ponca Tribe isn’t the only tribe fighting for its people’s economic welfare. Tribes across the country have begun establishing economic development organizations designed to start businesses that can help sustain tribal members. In Nebraska, the Winnebago Tribe has become...

Native Sun News: 'Fractivists' making case known on Capitol Hill (July 30, 2012)

The following story was written and reported by Talli Nauman, Native Sun News Health & Environment Editor. All content © Native Sun News. ‘Fractivists’ to invade Capitol Hill July 26 By Talli Nauman Native Sun News Health & Environment Editor...

Kenneth Deer: Olympic host broke promise to Iroquois Nationals (July 30, 2012)

"Soon the world will be watching the greatest sporting event in modern times and the United Kingdom will be in the spotlight with all its glory. But its glory is ill-founded. In 2010, the United Kingdom did not allow the...

Steven Newcomb: Examining the new state of federal Indian law (July 30, 2012)

"In a column published in December 2011, I criticized Charles Trimble and “Sam” Deloria, Jr., for what I considered to be personalized remarks directed at a Mohawk law professor, Carrie E. Garrow. She had made a comment about first year...

Hayley Hutt: Dam removal needed on Klamath to restore salmon (July 30, 2012)

"Two major events that could decide the fate of Klamath salmon recently occurred. First, the Department of Interior decided to analyze putting extra water into the Trinity River to avert a possible fish kill. Second, the California State Water Resources...

Travel: Following a Navajo sheep herder through the mountains (July 30, 2012)

"At 7 o’clock on a June morning, Irene Bennalley opened the gate of her livestock pen, and 800 little hooves, give or take a few, kicked up a copper-colored cloud of dust. Bleating and baaing with excitement, the herd of...

Marc Simmons: Comanches taught bison hunting to new settlers (July 30, 2012)

"On occasion in past columns, I’ve referred to the New Mexican buffalo hunter, called a cibolero, derived from the local word cíbolo, meaning buffalo. Recently, in my file on the subject, I discovered that I had accumulated enough new information...

Tim Giago: Cloaks and daggers within the Indian Health Service (July 30, 2012)

Notes from Indian Country By Tim Giago (Nanwica Kciji – Stands Up For Them) I had what I thought was a simple request of the Indian Health Service. To my chagrin I discovered that nothing is simple when it...