S.D. committee revises 'dangling object' law (February 13, 2004)

A South Dakota State Senate committee approved a bill that would revise the state's "dangling objects" law that Indian drivers say is discriminatory. Many Indian drivers hang feathers or dream catchers in their vehicles. They say it leads to unfair...

Alaska Native mayor decries spread of development (February 13, 2004)

George Ahmaogak, an Alaska Native mayor, gave a keynote speech at the Alaska Forum on the Environment where he deplored the rapid development of Inupiaq lands in the Arctic. Ahmaogak, mayor of the North Slope Borough, said Natives are losing...

Navajo miners end strike with signing of new contract (February 13, 2004)

A union consisting mostly of Navajo miners signed a new contract with BHP Billiton on Thursday, ending a 12-day strike. International Operating Engineers Local 953 protested what Navajos said was discrimination by top managers. They also said Navajos were not...

Neb. tribe calls for rejection of gaming dispute (February 13, 2004)

Later this month, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether to hear a dispute that has the federal government and several states raising alarm over regulation of the $14 billion industry but tribes wondering what the fuss is about. Briefs...

Reznet News: Students react to OutKast (February 13, 2004)

Students at Reznet News, an website for young Native journalists, react to the OutKast performance. Tetona Dunlap: "I could not believe my eyes. I was completely stunned. For a second I had to remind myself it was 2004. Never before...

Navajos upset over use of Beauty Way song (February 13, 2004)

Some Navajos are upset with hip-hop group OutKast's use of a traditional Navajo song at the 46th annual GRAMMYs this past Sunday. Before Andre 3000 launched into the hit song "Hey Ya!" a tape of the Beauty Way song played....

Suzan Harjo: Stank you very much, Andre 3000 (February 13, 2004)

"Dear Gentlemen: I usually watch at least part of the Grammy Awards. It’s always an interesting show and an easy way to catch acts I’ve heard but not seen, or never heard of at all, and to check in on...

Native GRAMMY winner, Tom Bee upset with OutKast (February 13, 2004)

Ed. Note: Indianz.com has not "launched an online petition" seeking an apology from OutKast, as The Albuquerque Journal states. But our gracious users have. Plenty of discussion, pro and con, can be found on the message board. The winners of...

Editorial: 'Apology' for GRAMMY performance wasn't (February 13, 2004)

The Sioux Falls Argus Leader in an editorial calls on CBS and the producers of the GRAMMYs to come clean about the "insensitive, demeaning and offensive" performance by hip-hop group Outkast. The paper says an "apology" offered by CBS isn't...

Lakota activist encourages positive portrayals (February 13, 2004)

Lakota Harden, a Lakota activist and speaker, spent a week at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign to talk about issues facing Native people. Harden said she grew up with discrimination. She attended a boarding school where her heritage was criticized,...

Group seeking recognition stirs trouble in Tenn. (February 13, 2004)

A group called the Cherokee Wolf Clan is trying ot stop the state of Tennessee from getting involved in Indian issues. The group has obtained obtained an injunction against the Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs. Chief Joseph Manycoats says only...

Crow Creek chairman presses BIA to fix school (February 13, 2004)

Duane Big Eagle, chairman of the Crow Creek Tribe of South Dakota, went to Washington, D.C., last week to lobby for federal funding to fix the crumbling tribal school. Big Eagle met with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He said...

Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe building training range (February 13, 2004)

The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe of Washington is a contractor on a new training center for the U.S. military. The tribe has partnered with PCL to build the Small Arms Training Center at the Naval Submarine Base. The tribe and the...

Ariz. jury debates verdict in priest hit and run case (February 13, 2004)

A jury in Arizona started deliberations on Thursday in the case of a Catholic bishop accused of leaving the scene of a crime. Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien didn't report hitting Jim Reed, a 43-year-old Navajo man. He drove home even...

Founder of Subway bankrolled Schaghticoke Tribe (February 13, 2004)

The man behind the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation's successful bid for federal recognition is Frederick A. DeLuca, founder of Subway Restaurants. In interviews with the press, DeLuca and said he wants to see a casino resort benefit schools and housing. "People...

Gila River culture on display at tribe's museum (February 13, 2004)

The Gila River Indian Community of Arizona recently opened a museum. The new Huhugam Heritage Center has two exhibits. The ethnobiology garden shows how the tribe has used desert plants for food, medicine and materials. A display on ancient trails...

Housing approved near Nez Perce cemetery (February 13, 2004)

The Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho plans to appeal a decision allowing the development of upscale homes near a tribal gravesite. Commissioners in Wallowa County, Oregon, approved the construction of 11 homes on 62 acres near the grave of Old...

Two Eastern tribes receive wildlife grants from DOI (February 13, 2004)

Two tribes in the Carolinas are among the recipients of nearly $14 million in wildlife grants from the Department of Interior. The Catawba Nation of South Carolina received $450,000. The tribe will use a $250,000 Tribal Wildlife Grant to buy...

Company denies being front for tribe or Trump (February 13, 2004)

A company seeking to build an entertainment theme park near the Mohegan Tribe's casino in Connecticut says it is not a front for another tribe or casino mogul Donald Trump. Utopia Studios of New York is planning a 2,000-room hotel...

Kerry beats Bush 52-43 in Wash Post matchup (February 13, 2004)

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, the Senator from Massachusetts, defeats President Bush 52 percent to 43 percent, according to a new Washington Post/ABC News poll. Amid growing doubts over the intelligence used to back the war in Iraq, the poll...

GOP seeks speedy passage of energy legislation (February 13, 2004)

Senate Republicans introduced a 1,246-page national energy policy bill on Thursday under a rule that will expedite consideration. The bill will head straight to floor debate and will not be taken up in committee. The text of S.2095 will be...

Date for House hearing on recognition not set (February 13, 2004)

The House Government Reform Committee has agreed to hold a hearing on federal recognition but a date hasn't been set, The New Haven Register reports. Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) sits on the committee. He is an outspoken critic of the...

Alaska Native mayor decries spread of development (February 13, 2004)

George Ahmaogak, an Alaska Native mayor, gave a keynote speech at the Alaska Forum on the Environment where he deplored the rapid development of Inupiaq lands in the Arctic. Ahmaogak, mayor of the North Slope Borough, said Natives are losing...

Senate approves $318B highway transportation bill (February 13, 2004)

The Senate voted 76-21 on Thursday to approve a $318 billion transportation bill. The Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003, S.1072, funds the Indian Reservation Roads program. The amount would be $300 million for fiscal year...

County delays approval of deal with Cowlitz Tribe (February 13, 2004)

An agreement between the Cowlitz Tribe and Clark County, Washington, was debated Tuesday night. The memorandum of understanding would govern how the tribe uses 152 acres of land it seeks to place into trust. The tribe is thinking about putting...