Congressman subject of inquiry for Abramoff ties (December 15, 2004)

Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) is being investigated by the House Ethics Committee for his involvement with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, The Hill newspaper reports. Ney welcomes the probe in order to clear up "misleading reporting we have seen on the...

Republican Thune to meet with tribal leaders (December 15, 2004)

A month after defeating Democrat Sen. Tom Daschle in the most expensive Senate race in history, Republican John Thune will meet with representatives of South Dakota's nine tribes. Tribal leaders unanimously endorsed Daschle in a heated matchup that saw...

Burns holds 'veto' over bison range agreement (December 15, 2004)

Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Montana) hasn't decided whether to oppose a Montana tribe's agreement to share management of the National Refuge Range, The Missoulian reports. Burns has the power to veto the agreement since it has to be reviewed by Congress....

Winterization of Blackfeet homes to continue (December 15, 2004)

The Blackfeet Nation of Montana has allowed a non-profit organization to continue weatherization of homes on the reservation. The tribe had ordered Crews from Opportunities Inc. off the reservation for violating the tribe's Indian preference law. The group was accused...

Editorial: House failed on Sand Creek Massacre site (December 15, 2004)

"The federal government is prepared to make the location of the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre a national historic site, but the widely supported move fell between the congressional cracks this month. House staffers say U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, who represents...

Former Navajo president opposes water deal (December 15, 2004)

Former Navajo Nation chairman Peter MacDonald is warning the tribe not to accept a water rights settlement with the state of New Mexico and the federal government. MacDonald says the tribe will be giving up rights to millions of acre-feet...

Lakota Nation Invitational kicks off in South Dakota (December 15, 2004)

The 28th annual Lakota Nation Invitational kicks off today in Rapid City, South Dakota. The invitational draws boys and girls teams from nine reservations for a heated basketball competition. As many as 7,000 people are expected to attend. But the...

School board rejects Ho-Chunk Nation's donation (December 15, 2004)

A school board in Chicago suburb has rejected a $20,000 donation from the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin. John Dall, a Chicago resident and Ho-Chunk legislator, tried to give the check to the district in Lynwood. But the board told him...

Montana tribe to share management of bison range (December 15, 2004)

A Montana tribe will share management of a national wildlife refuge under a controversial agreement being signed today by the Bush administration. In only the second deal of its kind, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will take over some...

Government blamed for Native tuberculosis outbreak (December 15, 2004)

Leaders of the York Factory First Nation in northern Manitoba are blaming government officials for an extremely high rate of tuberculosis on the remote reserve. In the past three years, more than 100 out of 420 residents of the reserve...

Tribe's sponsorship of university raises flags (December 15, 2004)

The Barona Band of Mission Indians has donated $1 million to San Diego State University over the past 12 years in a sponsorship arrangement that has some concerned. The tribe supports the school's athletic programs and in exchange receives advertising...

Campo Band signs contract for proposed landfill (December 15, 2004)

The Campo Band of Kumeyaay Indians of California has approved a contract to build the first large-scale commercial landfill on Indian land. The tribe signed an agreement with BLT Enterprises for a 400-acre landfill on the reservation. Chairman Harry Paul...

State board approves landfill opposed by Pala Band (December 15, 2004)

The California Integrated Waste Management Board voted 3-2 on Tuesday to approve a permit for a landfill opposed by the Pala Band of Mission Indians. The tribe says the Gregory Canyon landfill will harm the environment. The dump would be...

Study finds flaws in education of Native children (December 15, 2004)

A two-year study has found major failures in the education of Innu children in Labrador, CBC News reports. The study looks into the education system established by Canada when an Innu community was relocated in 2002. Among other problems, the...

United States, Britain holding up indigenous rights (December 15, 2004)

The United States and the United Kingdom are holding back the United Nations draft declaration on indigenous rights, Native leaders say. Indigenous representatives from the U.S., Canada and Mexico staged a protest in Geneva this month to call attention to...

Inuits to file human rights claim against United States (December 15, 2004)

Canadian Inuits living in the Arctic plan to file a human rights claim against the United States, The New York Times reports The Inuits will seek a ruling from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. They say the U.S., by...

Study: Only one Native American on television (December 15, 2004)

Only one Native American appears on network television and it's a cartoon character, according to a study released on Tuesday. The Chicano Studies Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles, studied the fall TV lineup and found only...

Former Kickapoo chairman still in federal custody (December 15, 2004)

The former chairman of the Kickapoo Tribe of Texas remained in federal custody on Tuesday for allegedly stealing more than $900,000 from the tribe. Raul Garza, 62, is one of six people indicted for the theft. All five others who...

Decision could keep power plant open past 2005 (December 15, 2004)

A power plant whose pending shutdown would affect the Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation has been given more time to study some key issues. The Mohave Generating Station in Laughlin, Nevada, supplies power to 4.6 million customers in California....

Jodi Rave: What was 'Kokopelli' professor thinking? (December 15, 2004)

"What was professor Andrew Gulliford thinking? Had he convinced himself his Native students were truly tacit and would stand for publication of their names, thoughts and ideas without consent? Gulliford, director of the Center for Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis...

University of New Mexico to offer Native studies (December 15, 2004)

The University of New Mexico's board of regents approved a new bachelor's degree program in Native American studies on Tuesday. UNM already has a minor in Native studies but students and professors asked for a new degree program. A master's...

Denver Post: Campbell missed final vote of career (December 15, 2004)

Retiring Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colorado) missed the last vote of his career in order to make a speech in Denver and meet with a powerful gaming mogul in Las Vegas, The Denver Post reports. The Senate voted on the...