South Dakota tribes received $101M for trust fund settlements (November 20, 2012)

Four South Dakota tribes have settled their trust fund lawsuits for a total of $101.4 million, The Mitchell Daily Republic reports. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe received $48.9 million, the largest of the four reported settlements. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe...

Little Shell Chippewa Tribe renews bid for federal recognition (November 20, 2012)

The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana will be focusing once again on federal recognition, the new chairman said. The tribe was denied federal recognition by the Bureau of Indian Affairs but is appealing. The tribe is also...

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes consider per cap vote (November 20, 2012)

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana might vote on distributing the remainder of a $150 million trust fund settlement on a per capita basis. In September, the tribe distributed half of the settlement. The payment came to $10,000...

KCUR: Chester Nez, Navajo Code Talker, earns overdue degree (November 20, 2012)

"For the past several years, the numbers of nontraditional college students have been increasing. But this past Monday, as part of its Veteran’s Day observance, the University of Kansas awarded a degree to one of its least traditional graduates ever:...

Law Article: Ruling supports tribal court system in New Mexico (November 20, 2012)

" Federal and state laws have consistently upheld tribal jurisdiction in a variety of cases concerning Indian self-government within Indian country. Tribal jurisdiction is especially important in New Mexico, since there are 19 Pueblos, two Apache tribes, and the Navajo...

TechCrunch: Google adds Cherokee language support in gmail (November 20, 2012)

"Google just announced that it has added Cherokee as Gmail’s 57th supported language. While Google has continuously expanded its language support for Gmail and its other services, this marks the first time that Google has added a Native American tribal...

Dina Gilio-Whitaker: Native American Heritage Month history (November 20, 2012)

"The Bureau of Indian Affairs website chronicles the history leading up to the establishment of Native American Heritage Month, connecting it to the early 1900’s and the efforts of Dr. Arthur Caswell Parker, a Seneca Indian (and great-nephew of General...

Sunny Clifford: Connecting with Lakota language and heritage (November 20, 2012)

"You know you come from a nation of oppression when a month has to be dedicated to your heritage. It’s the only way the rest of the country will remember how their freedom came to be, if they can see...

NYT Blog: Hopi Tribe lodges new lawsuit to protect sacred site (November 20, 2012)

"Weeks before the snow guns at the Arizona Snowbowl ski area are set to begin blowing artificial snow made from sewage effluent — a focus of a 10-year legal battle — the Hopi tribe has mounted a new challenge, arguing...

First Nations oppose decision to allow generic version of drug (November 20, 2012)

First Nations are opposing a decision that allows a generic version of OxyContin despite their concerns about prescription drug abuse. The patent on OxyContin, a powerful painkiller, expires December 28. Canada's Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, who is Inuit, said she...