Budget shifts for reorganization criticized at hearing (May 13, 2004)

Tribal and Congressional leaders warned on Wednesday that Indian programs face more budget cuts in the coming years due to the Bush administration's handling of trust reform. At a lengthy oversight hearing before the House Resources Committee, the reorganization of...

Campbell warns BIA's Anderson of 'Washington' attitude (May 13, 2004)

There were no hard feelings on Wednesday as assistant secretary Dave Anderson finally testified before a Senate committee he was earlier accused of avoiding. Anderson joined the Bush administration in February and has spent most of his time since then...

Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes file notice of land claim (May 13, 2004)

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma have informed land title companies in Colorado of their claim to 30 percent of the state. $p The tribes say their are the rightful owners of 27 million acres in eastern Colorado. They...

Arctic Slope shareholders call for chairman's ouster (May 13, 2004)

A shareholders meeting of the Arctic Slope Regional Corp., an Alaska Native regional corporation, turned "raucous" on Saturday, The Anchorage Daily News reports. $p Angry shareholders called for the meeting to question low profits and dividends. But soon after it...

President of Ketchikan Tribe target of recall (May 13, 2004)

The recently elected president of the Ketchikan Tribe of Alaska is facing a recall petition over alleged misuse of funds and other charges. $p Stephanie Rainwater-Sande, who was elected in January, is accused of using funds without obtaining approval from...

Navajo Nation police chief resigns over dispute (May 13, 2004)

The Navajo Nation's police chief has resigned, citing "irreconcilable differences" with the tribe, The Farmington Daily Times reports. $p Chief Dorothy Fulton is a 20-year veteran of the police department. She did not explain why the "current political climate" forced...

White Mountain Apache chair defends mass firing (May 13, 2004)

The chairman of the White Mountain Apache Tribe of Arizona acknowledges his decision to fire more than a dozen employees was politically motivated. $p Chairman Dallas Massey ousted the employees because they didn't support him in a recent election or...

Tribes to mediate dispute over nuclear waste cleanup (May 13, 2004)

Two tribes, two states and the federal government will be mediating a dispute over cleanup of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington. The Yakama Nation of Washington filed a lawsuit against the Department of Energy seeking restoration of natural resources...

Michigan tribes sign water accord with state (May 13, 2004)

All 12 federally recognized tribes in Michigan signed an accord with Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm (D) on Monday to protect, preserve and enhance water resources in the state. $p The tribes will meet with the state twice a year to...

South Carolina to begin recognizing tribes (May 13, 2004)

The South Carolina Legislature on Wednesday gave authority to the state's Minority Affairs Commission to recognize tribes. $p The commission has to develop criteria for three categories of state recognition. A group could obtain status as a tribe, as a...

Bill renames U.S. courthouse for Chief Tomochichi (May 13, 2004)

The U.S. House unanimously passed a bill on Tuesday to rename a federal courthouse in Georgia after a Creek chief. $p Tomochichi was a Creek man who later became chief of the Yamacraw Tribe. He is credited with helping Georgia...

Troubled ferry poses problems for Makah Tribe (May 13, 2004)

An historic ferry that became an eyesore in Seattle, Washington, is causing problems for the Makah Tribe. $P The tribe agreed to provide free moorage to the Kalakala pending restoration of the 1930s vessel. But shortly after arriving within tribal...

House hearing focuses on BIA-OST reorganization (May 13, 2004)

The House Resources Committee held a hearing on the reorganization of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the expansion of the Office of Special Trustee on Wednesday. $P Aurene Martin, the principal deputy assistant secretary at the BIA, and Ross...

Montana county accused of bias against Native man (May 13, 2004)

Montana's Human Rights Bureau is accusing a county of discriminating against a tribal member who was banned from working at the county courthouse due to his '"negative history with law enforcement." Bryan Has The Pipe, a member of the Assiniboine...

Manitoba tribal leader ousted over theft charges (May 13, 2004)

The Southern Chiefs Organization of Manitoba removed Grand Chief Margaret Swan from her position in response to her guilty to plea to stealing from her own tribe. $p Swan pleaded guilty to stealing $61,000 from the Lake Manitoba First Nation...

Eastern Cherokees go bilingual with road signs (May 13, 2004)

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina is installing 400 road signs in both Cherokee and English. $P The $45,000 project is part of the tribe's aggressive effort to pass on the Cherokee language. Tribal officials say only...