Order blocking gas tax on reservations to stand (February 18, 2005)

A lawsuit claiming the state of North Dakota owes Indian consumers more than $2 million a year for an illegal gas tax is moving forward. Four tribal members sued the state in August 2003 to bar the collection of the...

Pataki says dealing with Oneida Nation 'unreasonable' (February 18, 2005)

New York Gov. George Pataki (R) says he agreed to settle land claims with out-of-state tribes because dealing solely with the Oneida Nation "proved completely unreasonable," The Syracuse Post-Standard reports. For several years, Pataki exclusively negotiated with the Oneida Nation...

Cayuga Nation to pay $60M to law firm handling claim (February 18, 2005)

The Cayuga Nation of New York has promised to pay $60 million to law firm that is handling the tribe's land claim. The contingency fee will be given to Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal of Manhattan if the tribe opens a...

Professor says Churchill hired because he was 'Indian' (February 18, 2005)

A former University of Colorado professor says Ward Churchill received tenure because he claimed to be Indian. Former communications department chairman John Bowers said Churchill's heritage was never mentioned explicitly. But since the school wanted to expand its minority faculty,...

City urged not to build on top of ancient village (February 18, 2005)

The city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, is being urged not to move forward with a new civic center because the site sits on top of a relatively undisturbed Pueblo village. A city committee of archaeologists and the Museum of...

Audit: Boys & Girls Club money used for leather jackets (February 18, 2005)

An internal audit has found that the office of Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. used federal grant money to buy leather jackets, The Farmington Daily Times reports. The Navajo Nation Auditor General’s Office investigated the Diné Boys and Girls...

Gospel hip-hop band from Crow Reservation wins Nammy (February 18, 2005)

The gospel hip-hop band Rezawrecktion is planning a tour of Indian Country after winning a Native American Music Award. Rezawrecktion's first release “It's Time,” won the Best Gospel/Christian Recording at the 7th annual Nammy ceremony last week. The group's four...

Editorial: Tribal drug trade a viable option for state (February 18, 2005)

"All praise to Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty who has become the nation's leading governor when it comes to resisting the Bush administration's prescription drug policies. Specifically, the Republican governor has drawn a line regarding importation of drugs from Canada, a...

Forest Service hears concerns about sacred sites (February 18, 2005)

The U.S. Forest Service attended the second day of the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Consultation and Listening Session and heard numerous concerns about the sacred Black Hills. Some tribal members pointed out that the entire Black Hills is sacred, not...

Catawba Nation trying to sort out leadership dispute (February 18, 2005)

The Catawba Nation of South Carolina is trying to resolve a leadership dispute that was taken to federal court. A group of tribal members sued Chief Gilbert Blue in state court. They said elections weren't held regularly and wanted him...

Inter-tribal prescription drug trade gets boost (February 18, 2005)

At least two Minnesota tribes are discussing the possibility of importing prescription drugs from First Nations in Canada. The Red Lake Band and the White Earth Band are interested in resurrecting inter-tribal trade. They could work with the Dakota Ojibway...

Probe of Innu community's finances rejected (February 18, 2005)

The Canadian government's Indian affairs minister said he won't call for an investigation into the finances of a troubled Innu Nation community in Labrador. A recent audit showed that $3 million has gone missing. But Andy Scott said it would...

Two South Carolina tribes win state recognition (February 18, 2005)

Two tribes won recognition from the state of South Carolina on Thursday. The state's Commission for Minority Affairs voted in favor of the Waccamaw Indian People and the Pee Dee Nation. Members of both tribes were ecstatic. “I don’t have...

Group denies contact with DOI over tribe's recognition (February 18, 2005)

A group that hired a Republican lobbyist to overturn the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation's federal recognition denies it has contacted the Interior Department. Town Action to Save Kent held a meeting last month to discuss the hiring of Bradley Blakeman of...

Olmecs in Mexico called mother of Indian civilizations (February 18, 2005)

Research published in this week's issue of Science calls the Olmec civilization the "mother culture" of Mexico and Central America. Based on pottery samples, researchers said the Olmecs exported their goods throughout the region. The chemical analysis showed the Olmecs...

Native banker on board of OKC Chamber of Commerce (February 18, 2005)

A prominent Native banker has been appointed to the board of directors for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. J.D. Colbert, a Chickasaw/Creek who founded the North American Native Bankers Association, will serve a one-year term on the board....

Lance Morgan: Indian culture always about survival (February 18, 2005)

Ed. Note: Lance Morgan is CEO of Ho-Chunk Inc., the economic development corporation of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Ho-Chunk Inc. owns Indianz.Com and its sister e-commerce site http://www.allnative.com. "I run Ho-Chunk, Inc., a 10-year-old tribal development corporation. When we...