Washington court to consider felon voting rights (November 9, 2004)

A Native American man who has been denied the right to vote because he is a convicted felon will get his case heard due to an action by the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday. Clifton Briceno is a Cherokee man...

Self-determination case goes before U.S. Supreme Court (November 9, 2004)

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today in a case that will determine whether tribes should receive full funding for carrying out the goal of self-determination. As part of the landmark Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act,...

Forest Service issues plan to protect sacred site (November 9, 2004)

The U.S. Forest Service has released a management plan that seeks to protect a sacred site of the Nor-Rel-Muk Tribe of California. Kok-Chee-Chup-Chee, also known as Natural Bridge, is a natural rock formation where tribal ancestors went for spiritual guidance....

Lumbee officials order another district election (November 9, 2004)

Officials with the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina ordered another election for a tribal council district after numerous problems were reported. Councilman Montford Dial had won re-election last week over challenger Danita Locklear by just two votes. But the elections...

Yellow Bird: Remembering my brother, a Vietnam vet (November 9, 2004)

"My brother, "Cookie," fought in the jungles of Vietnam. From the little he told us, we knew it was bad. He told me only a little of the war. What he did tell me concerned the everyday things, such as...

Tim Giago: GOP moral values will hurt Indian Country (November 9, 2004)

"And so the crux of Election 2004 turned on the whims of moral values? How frightening! Whose morals and values? If God created man in his own image, which image did he use as a pattern? Because those who voted...

Daschle to end Indian voter intimidation suit (November 9, 2004)

Outgoing Sen. Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota) will ask a federal judge to dismiss an Indian voter intimidation lawsuit against Republican John Thune, the winner of last week's election. The judge had granted Daschle a temporary restraining order that prohibited Republican...

Assessment finds Arctic warming more rapidly (November 9, 2004)

The Arctic is warming more rapidly, leading to environmental impacts throughout the world, according to a comprehensive international and inter-tribal assessment released on Monday, The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment is a four-year study conducted by 300 scientists and indigenous experts...

Judge won't dismiss tribe's pollution lawsuit (November 9, 2004)

A federal judge on Monday refused to dismiss a lawsuit the Colville Confederated Tribes' lawsuit against a Canadian mining company accused of polluting the Columbia River. But the judge said Teck Cominco could immediately appeal the ruling. The company says...

Native kids sent back to dilapidated school (November 9, 2004)

Kids on the Pikangikum First Nation in Ontario have been sent back to school in a dilapidated building that is in desperate need of replacement. Officials closed the school last month because of a big leak in the roof and...

Program seeks to help Natives adjust to urban life (November 9, 2004)

A new program seeks to help Natives from rural reserves in Manitoba adjust to urban life in the city of Winnipeg. Ka Ni Kanichihk, a Native-run organization in the city, says the program will target young Natives. Many come to...

Rival groups now occupying First Nation school (November 9, 2004)

Two rival groups are now occupying a school on the Piapot First Nation in Saskatchewan. The new group is made of parents and teachers. They say they will stay until the school is reopened. The first group is made of...

Wyoming tribes seek formal state-tribal policy (November 9, 2004)

Leaders of Wyoming's two tribes urged lawmakers on Monday to develop a formal state-tribal policy. The State Legislature created a tribal liaison to work with the Northern Arapaho Tribe and the Eastern Shoshone Tribe. Both tribes are based on the...

Indian center in Salt Lake City fight youth obesity (November 9, 2004)

Obesity rates are rising among Indian youth, increasing the risk for diabetes and other health problems. The Indian Walk-in Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, is trying to reverse the trend. The center offers healthy lifestyle classes for youth, physical...

Drug cartels offer $500K to kill Shadow Wolves (November 9, 2004)

Drug cartels have put a bounty of $500,000 on members of the Shadow Wolves, an elite all-Native force of border patrol officers. There is also a price being put on the Shadow Wolves' families. The cartels will pay $50,000 for...

Jodi Rave: Indian issues need more than a month (November 9, 2004)

"It's November, National American Indian Heritage Month. And it's time for Americans to step back and reflect on the lives of indigenous people. Some might take a cue from President Bush. In a proclamation Thursday, he stated: "As the first...

Gila River Indian Community struggles with diabetes (November 9, 2004)

With more than half of Pima adults diagnosed with diabetes, the Gila River Indian Community of Arizona is waging a battle against the deadly disease. Last week, the tribe opened two dialysis centers. The facilities cost $10 million and include...

Oklahoma's Native languages slowly disappearing (November 9, 2004)

The 25 Native language spoken in Oklahoma are slowly disappearing due to the lack of new fluent speakers. According to the Intertribal Wordpath Society, 10 of the languages have less than 10 fluent speakers left and the remaining 15 have...