Vitter 'conned' by group opposing tribe (November 12, 2004)

Rep. David Vitter, a Republican from Louisiana who has been elected as senator, is suggesting that he was conned by a group opposing the Jena Choctaw Band. Vitter joined forces with the Committee Against Gambling Expansion to oppose the Jena...

Former BIA law enforcement chief tapped for post (November 12, 2004)

An Indian man with 30 years of law enforcement experience is being tapped as the next U.S. Marshal for Nevada. Ted Quasula, a member of the Hualapai Tribe of Arizona, would be the first Native American to hold the prestigious...

Court sides with tribe in law enforcement dispute (November 12, 2004)

In a victory for tribal law enforcement, a federal appeals court last week barred a county sheriff from imposing state law on a tribe's police force even when those officers leave the reservation. According to the state vehicle code, the...

Washington tribe buys land around sacred site (November 12, 2004)

The Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe of Washington has purchased 66 acres next to Tamanowas Rock, a sacred site. The tribe is working with other groups to preserve Tamanowas Rock as a sanctuary. The rock and the surrounding area have been used...

Hearing set for Oneida Nation treaty rights case (November 12, 2004)

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on January 11, 2005, in the Oneida Nation's treaty rights case. The court is being asked to determine whether the tribe's reservation, as defined by the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua, still exists. If...

Native veterans honored in Arizona ceremony (November 12, 2004)

Native veterans from various tribes took part in an honoring ceremony at the Pueblo Grande Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. The veterans participated in a gourd dance, a tradition dating back to a Kiowa warrior. They held an honor dance for...

Pataki expected to veto Indian tax legislation (November 12, 2004)

New York Gov. George Pataki (R) is expected to veto legislation that would force state sales tax on reservation businesses. The state Senate and Assembly overwhelmingly passed the bills. If enacted into law, they would require the collection of state...

Indian inmates in Nebraska settle lawsuit (November 12, 2004)

Indian inmates in Nebraska will get to hold two pow-wows a year, have more time for religious ceremonies and be able to use traditional foods as part of a settlement reached with state prison officials. The settlement comes out of...

Thune sees potential in reservation vote (November 12, 2004)

South Dakota Republican John Thune didn't get a significant portion of the reservation vote on November 2 but his numbers improved from two years earlier. On the Pine Ridge Reservation, for example, Thune got 546 votes. He only got 248...

Dakota Commemorative March traces painful journey (November 12, 2004)

Descendants of 1,700 Dakota Indians who were forced to walk 150 miles in the winter of 1862 are retracing the painful journey in hopes of furthering healing and understanding. The Dakota Commemorative March began in Lower Sioux, Minnesota, on November...

Rival protest groups leave First Nation school (November 12, 2004)

Students on the Piapot First Nation in Saskatchewan could be returning to school soon now that a month-long protest has ended. The protest started when a group of parents shut down the school in early October. They opposed an experimental...

Officers linked to Native teen's death face action (November 12, 2004)

Two police officers linked to the death of a Cree Native teen are facing action by the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, force. A decision on Bradley Senger and Lawrence Hartwig is expected by this afternoon. Speculation is that one or both of...

Award-winning puppet show presents Makah tales (November 12, 2004)

The Northwest Puppet Center is presenting its award-winning puppet show of several Makah Nation legends. The center worked with Makah elders to produce "Q'we-ti: Tales of the Makah Tribe." The elders offered advice on the stories and the costumes worn...

Trip to Peru opens new world for U.S. Natives (November 12, 2004)

A group of Native and non-Native educators say their recent trip to Peru was an eye-opening experience. Wayne Stein, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and a Fulbright scholar, organized the month-long trip for himself and 13...

Navajo man shot to death by police in New Mexico (November 12, 2004)

A Navajo man whose estranged wife was convicted of murdering three of their children was shot to death by police in New Mexico. Tommy Charley, 44, was involved in a car accident in Eddy County and apparently left the scene....

Lummi Nation football team has stellar record (November 12, 2004)

The Lummi Nation of Washington is feeling revitalized thanks to its high school football team, whose 9-1 record and coach have become a source of pride. The Lummi Nation Blackhawks are headed to the Class B-8 state playoffs after averaging...

Senate leader says GOP won't tolerate filibusters (November 12, 2004)

Now that Republicans have increased their majority, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tennessee) says they won't allow Democrats to filibuster President Bush's judicial nominees. Republicans have 55 seats in the Senate. The number is still short of the 60 needed...

BIA seeks comments on Cowlitz land-into-trust (November 12, 2004)

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is holding a public meeting next month on the Cowlitz Tribe's request to have 152 acres placed in trust. The BIA will take comments on an environmental impact statement for the property, located in La...

Ex-Marine tapped for tribe's youth coordinator post (November 12, 2004)

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota has hired a former U.S. Marine to head up its youth activities program. Lynn Burnett, a tribal member, spent eight years in the Marine Corps. He will develop leagues and activities for...

HHS institutes tobacco-free policy at buildings (November 12, 2004)

The Department of Health and Human Services is banning the use of tobacco at its buildings, The Washington Post reports. The policy is meant to curb smoking among HHS' 66,000 employees. It will go into effect in January. Officials are...

Opinion: Mascot names perpetrate racism (November 12, 2004)

"November is American Indian Heritage Month, and while many activities are planned across the nation to honor our heritage, the continued use of racial imagery in the form of Indian mascots remains a source of harm rather than honor. Much...