Winnebago Tribe creating village for members (September 30, 2004)

The first families are moving into Ho-Chunk Village, a new development of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. The tribe began diversifying its economy but noticed that tribal members were leaving the reservation. The problem was lack of housing. In hopes...

Oneida Nation eviction case heads to Supreme Court (September 30, 2004)

Members of the Oneida Nation who are facing eviction from their New York reservation are taking their case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The families had asked the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals to stop the eviction. They say they...

More hearings slated in tribal lobbyist scandal (September 30, 2004)

SILENT: Jack Abramoff confers with attorney Abbe Lowell before refusing to answer questions. Photo © NSM. ANGRY: Richard Milanovich, chairman of Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, listens to hearing. Photo © NSM. EVASIVE: Chris Petras, former Saginaw Chippewa...

Contempt against Rocky Boy's activist dismissed (September 30, 2004)

A member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Montana has been freed of a criminal contempt charge in his fight against the tribe's constitution. Russell Standing Rock is opposing amendments to the constitution. He was arrested after refusing to under...

Kerry-Edwards Navajo office next to GOP office (September 30, 2004)

The John Kerry-John Edwards campaign has a new office on the Navajo Nation that is next door to the Republican Party's Navajo office. The Northern Navajo Democratic Party opened the office to get Navajos to vote for the Democratic ticket....

Abramoff mum at hearing while Scanlon a no-show (September 30, 2004)

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held a hearing on Wednesday on the lobbying activities involving six tribes that gave at least $66 million to two Washington insiders who peddled their influence with top Republicans. Lobbyist Jack Abramoff appeared at the...

St. Regis Mohawk Tribe might put up toll booths (September 30, 2004)

Leaders of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe of New York are considering putting up toll booths on the reservation as a means of generating revenue. Tribal leaders said the need arises from the federal government's crackdown on Indian-owned gas stations....

Pine Ridge absentee voter plan approved by county (September 30, 2004)

Voters on the Pine Ridge Reservation will be able to cast absentee ballots without leaving the reservation under a plan approved on Wednesday. The Shannon County Commission voted to open early voting offices on the reservation, the Four Directions Committee...

Book chronicles story of North Dakota Indian lawyer (September 30, 2004)

A new book tells the story of Raymond Cross, one of the first Indian lawyers who helped his North Dakota tribe win a landmark claim. Cross, a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, is the subject of...

Native students in Nebraska meet for conference (September 30, 2004)

The first-ever Native American Student Leadership Conference was held in Nebraska on Wednesday. A reported 100 Native students attended the conference, held at Southeast Community College. They listened to motivational speeches from people like Arnold Thomas, a Shoshone-Paiute man who...

Program brings healthy snacks to Indian students (September 30, 2004)

A new program starting on two Arizona reservations tomorrow will supply Indian students with healthy snacks. The Department of Agriculture is paying for fruits and vegetables at schools on the Tohono O'odham Reservation and on the Gila River Reservation. The...

Summit focuses on restoring indigenous diet (September 30, 2004)

The Native Food Summit was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, recently to focus on restoring the foods that were once part of the indigenous diet. The summit was sponsored by the First Nations Development Institute. It brought tribal leaders, health experts...

Herseth the choice of Indians contacted for poll (September 30, 2004)

Only 16 Indian voters were contacted for a new South Dakota poll but almost all of them say they will vote for incumbent Rep. Stephanie Herseth, a Democrat. Of the 16 Indians contacted by Zogby International, 14 supported Herseth. The...

University adds museum track to Native program (September 30, 2004)

The Center for Indigenous Nations Studies at University of Kansas has added an Indigenous Museum Studies to its program. Students got some real-world experience in the subject by attending the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian in...

Lamberth orders DOI to inform beneficiaries of rights (September 30, 2004)

The federal judge handling the Indian trust fund ordered the Interior Department on Tuesday to keep beneficiaries informed of their rights regarding the sale or exchange of trust land. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth declined to impose a preliminary injunction...

Column: Lobbyists lurked in 'cesspool of greed' (September 30, 2004)

"Today, Senator Byron Dorgan told the [Senate Indian Affairs] committee [Jack] Abramoff and Scanlon lurked in a “cesspool of greed.” A Washington grand jury, the FBI and a task force of five different federal agencies are also looking into the...

Group claims tribe's recognition will hurt community (September 30, 2004)

A new group that claims a growing membership says federal recognition for the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation will hurt the community. Town Action to Save Kent (TASK) says recognition will lead to a casino, crime, traffic, decreased tax revenues and fewer...

Manitoba's smoking ban won't apply to First Nation (September 30, 2004)

The Roseau River First Nation of Manitoba is taking advantage of its exemption from the province's new ban on smoking in public places. The band is building a new casino it hopes will attract not just gamblers but smokers. Tribal...

COPS program hands out last of police hiring grants (September 30, 2004)

The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program that has helped tribes with law enforcement handed out its last set of police hiring grants this month. The Bush administration has eliminated funds for the hiring portion of COPS, saying it has...

Paugussett Tribe challenges recognition denial (September 30, 2004)

The Golden Hill Paugussett Tribe of Connecticut has appealed the Bureau of Indian Affairs' denial of federal recognition. The tribe claims the decision was not about the facts but about "politics and power." The appeal claims the BIA made mistakes...

Mashantucket Tribe reaches water service deal (September 30, 2004)

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation has reached a water services agreement with the town of North Stonington, Connecticut. The final draft is still being prepared but represents progress, a town lawyer said. Last year, the town pressured the state to...

Editorial: Sioux summit should have been open to all (September 30, 2004)

"It is certainly true that Indian issues do not get the attention they deserve, so any conference at which tribal leaders can voice their concerns to elected officials is - usually - good news. In this case, though, we don't...