Passage of time at issue in Oneida Nation case (January 12, 2005)

New York's smallest city and its most powerful tribe sparred over treaty rights, sovereignty and taxes before the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday. During an hour of oral arguments, members of the high court heard a familiar tale about the...

Oneida Nation wants court to uphold promises (January 12, 2005)

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday heard oral arguments in the Oneida Nation's land case. Observers commented after the hearing. Tribal representative Ray Halbritter said the case "is about whether the U.S. keeps its promises." The tribe says a 1794...

Native village in Arctic blasted by winter storm (January 12, 2005)

The Inupiat Eskimo village of Kaktovik has been crippled by a major storm that knocked out power and hindered delivery of supplies to the remote community in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. High winds knocked out power over the weekend...

Montana lawmakers told to fund Indian education (January 12, 2005)

The House Education Funding Committee was told the state must fully fund a constitutional mandate to educate all students about Indian history and culture. The Indian Education for All Act of 1999 was passed to fulfill the constitutional promise made...

Native artist faces questions over tribal heritage (January 12, 2005)

A Native artist who owns a gallery in New Mexico is being forced to document his tribal ancestry. Ambrose Teasyatwho is Hopi and Navajo but apparently lacks membership in either tribe. He said he never had to prove his ancestry...

Eastern Cherokees made $1M in political donations (January 12, 2005)

The Eastern Band of Cherokees has made at least $1 million in political donations over the past four years, The Asheville Citizen-Times reports. Thanks to gaming revenues, the tribe gave $185,000 to the North Carolina Democratic Party; $15,000 to the...

Aquash murder defendant can't question FBI photo (January 12, 2005)

A Canadian Native man accused of murdering American Indian Movement activist Anna Mae Pictou Aquash in 1975 lost a ruling in his extradition battle on Tuesday. John Graham wanted to question how the FBI identified him using a photo. But...

Ute Tribe launches study of education funding (January 12, 2005)

The Ute Tribe of Utah has launched a study to determine whether Native students are being shortchanged by the public education system. The tribe is concerned that funding disparities are hurting Native students. Three schools are falling apart and have...

Leech Lake Ojibwe soldier killed by bomb in Iraq (January 12, 2005)

Dwayne Bellanger McFarlane, a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe from Minnesota, was killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb. Army Spc. McFarlane, 20, was patrolling outside of Baghdad when the bomb exploded. He was serving his second...

Northern Arapaho man joins Wyoming Legislature (January 12, 2005)

Patrick Goggles, a member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe, was sworn into the Wyoming Legislature on Tuesday. Rep. Goggles, a Democrat, was elected to the district that includes the Wind River Reservation. He said he will introduce legislation that benefits...

Adoption ruling excluding First Nations slammed (January 12, 2005)

First Nations leaders in Saskatchewan are criticizing a judge's ruling that excludes them from the adoption process. On December 10, Queen's Bench Justice Jacelyn Ann Ryan-Froslie struck down a provincial policy that gives First Nations veto authority over Native children...

Mohegan Tribe to start restaurant franchise (January 12, 2005)

The Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut is getting into the restaurant franchise business. The tribe will start a franchise of Indian-themed grills with Native-style foods. The first one, the Uncas American Indian Grill, will open at the tribe's casino in July....

Federal judge nominated for Homeland Security (January 12, 2005)

President Bush nominated federal appeals court judge Michael Chertoff on Tuesday as Secretary of Homeland Security. Chertoff is Bush's second choice for the job. The first pick, former New York police commissioner Bernard B. Kerik, was forced to withdraw over...

Bush administration's new budget will be strict (January 12, 2005)

Bush administration aides and Congressional staff say President Bush's new 2006 budget will be strict in order to cut the federal deficit and rein in spending. The budget will be announced on February 7. Tribal leaders have already been told...

Northwest Indian lawyers award scholarships (January 12, 2005)

The Northwest Indian Bar Association (NIBA) recently awarded $6,500 in scholarships to Northwest Native law students as part of an ongoing effort to support Indian students seeking a legal education. Since 2003, NIBA and its sister group, the Washington State...

Registration opens for Native basketball tourney (January 12, 2005)

Team registration is now underway for the third annual Native American Basketball Invitational/NABI, a high school basketball tournament being held in Phoenix, Arizona, in June. Comprised of 48 Native American teams from throughout the United States and Canada, first rounds...

Navajo Nation Powwow to benefit tsumani relief (January 12, 2005)

The Navajo Nation Tsunami Relief Benefit Powwow will take place on Saturday, January 15, in Fort Wingate, New Mexico. Proceeds from the event will go to the Red Cross to aid the victims of the tsunami disaster. Over 150,000 have...