U.S. Supreme Court won't take Cobell from Lamberth (February 23, 2005)

The plaintiffs in the billion-dollar Indian trust fund lawsuit urged a federal judge on Tuesday to move forward with contempt proceedings against dozens of current and former government officials accused of destroying trust records. The request came as the U.S....

Jury deliberates in murder of Alaska Native woman (February 23, 2005)

A jury in Alaska began deliberations in the trial of a former police officer accused of murdering an Alaska Native woman. Sonya Ivanoff, 19, was found dead on August 2003 in Nome. She had been shot in the back of...

FBI has no leads on theft from Cabazon museum (February 23, 2005)

The FBI is worried that 17 items stolen from the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians Cultural Museum are headed for the black market. The items [PDF: Photos] were stolen on the early morning of January 11. Their estimated value is...

Arizona tribe's resort employs unique concierge (February 23, 2005)

The Gila River Indian Community's resort has a unique title for a unique employee. Ginger Martin, a 32-year-old tribal member, is a cultural concierge. Martin grew up on the reservation, immersed in her tribal heritage. She now shares her life...

Sacred site policy at Rainbow Bridge to stand (February 23, 2005)

A federal policy aimed at protecting a sacred site in Utah withstood another legal challenge on Tuesday. Without comment, the U.S. Supreme Court refused an appeal filed by a conservative group that is fighting protections for several sacred sites....

Passamaquoddy Tribe divided over gas terminal (February 23, 2005)

Members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Maine are divided over a proposal to locate a liquefied natural gas terminal on the reservation. Tribal officials say the $400 million project will generate jobs and revenue. The terminal would be located on...

Miccosukee man plans appeal for death of young sons (February 23, 2005)

A member of the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida plans to appeal his sentence for the deaths of his two young sons. Kirk Billie was given a life in prison for driving an SUV carrying his sons into a canal. The...

County won't reverse stand on Cayuga land claim deal (February 23, 2005)

Lawmakers in Cayuga County, New York, won't reverse their conditional approval of the Cayuga land claim settlement. Last month, the lawmakers voted 9-6 in favor of the state's deal with the Cayuga Nation and the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma. The...

Probe of Myers role in grazing dispute released (February 23, 2005)

The Interior Department's Inspector General released a report on Tuesday that characterizes former Interior solicitor Bill Myers as a victim in a controversial ranching dispute. Myers' office oversaw negotiations between the Bureau of Land Management and a Wyoming rancher accused...

Ward Churchill on being an Indian: 'I am not' (February 23, 2005)

Controversial University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill admitted on Tuesday that he is not Native American, according to a Hawaii paper that has since issued a retraction. In his first out-of-state appearance since stirring up controversy with an essay comparing...

Another set of circles discovered in Miami (February 23, 2005)

Two more circles built by the Tequesta Tribe about 2,000 years ago have been uncovered in downtown Miami. The new circles form a 36-foot wide concentric ring on Miami's north waterfront. Although they don't know the exact meaning or purpose...

Changing of the guard at Redding Rancheria (February 23, 2005)

The Redding Rancheria of northern California will be seeing a change in leadership next month but it won't be a drastic one. Barbara Murphy, 65, the long-time CEO of the tribe's economic enterprise, will become the new chairwoman. Tracy Edwards,...

San Manuel Band to demolish housing at former base (February 23, 2005)

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians will demolish 208 housing units at the former Norton Air Force Base in California to make way for economic development. The tribe acquired a portion of the base last September. Some of the...

Wisconsin family proud of Black and Indian heritage (February 23, 2005)

The Baldwin family in Chilton, Wisconsin, is proud to have Moses Stanton, a Black and Narragansett man who founded Chilton, as an ancestor. Mark Baldwin and his daughter Rachel, 10, are direct descendants of Stanton, a minister who founded Chilton...

California's only tribal college remains closed (February 23, 2005)

D-Q University, the only tribal college in California, remains closed but some students refuse to leave the dorms as two factions try to sort out the mess. One faction is led by Cindy LaMarr, former president of the National Indian...

Bar association seeks payment for all Native students (February 23, 2005)

The Canadian Bar Association is proposing the Canadian government pay each and every person who attended a Native residential school. The association said each person, regardless of whether he or she has an abuse claim pending, should receive $10,000 (Canadian)...

Bill to add Indian to state parole board rejected (February 23, 2005)

The South Dakota Senate voted 23-12 on Tuesday on a bill that would add an American Indian to the state parole board. Gov. Mike Rounds (R) and Democrat lawmakers supported the addition of a tribal member to the board. But...

Indian organization left Virginia town with $7K bill (February 23, 2005)

A California group is being criticized for leaving the town of Dumfries, Virginia, with nearly $7,000 in unpaid bills after a Veterans Day powwow. People associated with the Walk With the Warriors organization skipped out on a $3,650.39 hotel bill...

Sacred site law spurs $50M claim from mine firm (February 23, 2005)

A Canadian company seeking to open a gold mine on sacred Quechan Nation land has filed a $50 million claim against the United States. Glamis Gold Ltd filed the claim under the North American Free Trade Agreement instead of the...

Supreme Court to review assisted suicide law (February 23, 2005)

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear the Bush administration's challenge to Oregon's assisted suicide law. Under former attorney general John Ashcroft, the Department of Justice issued a directive that bars physicians from using federally controlled substances for...

Column: Mille Lacs Ojibwe Band will be here 'forever' (February 23, 2005)

"On a brilliant winter day, 500 members of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe came to the reservation community center Tuesday, across Hwy. 169 from a video sign advertising the imminent appearance of Frankie Avalon at the Grand Casino, and...