Another year of gains for Native students on SAT (August 31, 2005)

For yet another year, Native American students registered big gains on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, based on figures released on Tuesday. American Indian and Alaska Native students, in fact, registered the largest point gain on the verbal portion of the...

Poverty in Indian Country still higher than average (August 31, 2005)

The number of Native Americans living in poverty and without health insurance remains sky-high, according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday. Based on a three-year average, 24.3 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives lived in...

Thomas Blackweasel, revered Blackfeet leader, dies (August 31, 2005)

Thomas Blackweasel, an elder of the Blackfeet Nation who led efforts to keep the Piegan language alive, died on Friday, August 26, of natural causes. He was 70. Blackweasel often led ceremonies and public events in the Blackfeet language. He...

IHS Director Grim makes visit to Red Lake Reservation (August 31, 2005)

Dr. Charles Grim, the director of the Indian Health Service, visited the Red Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota on Tuesday. Grim toured the reservation and met with teachers and administrators. He pledged the IHS's support in helping the community deal...

Cobell speaks to account holders in Arizona (August 31, 2005)

Elouise Cobell, the lead plaintiff in the Indian trust fund lawsuit, met with account holders in Arizona to update them on the case and hear their concerns. Cobell visited the Gila River Indian Community in the morning and the Salt...

High school debates 'Dancing Warrior' mascot (August 31, 2005)

Parents and residents in Canton, Connecticut, are divided over the high school's "Dancing Warrior' mascot. Over the objections of principal Gary Gula, who says it is in appropriate to use Indian imagery, the school board voted to keep the...

Changes sought to help Indian students in Montana (August 31, 2005)

A report prepared for the Montana Legislature's Quality Schools Interim Committee makes recommendations to improve the education of Indian students in the state. Joyce Silverthorne, director of education for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, presented the report. She said...

Indian students in Wyoming make gains on tests (August 31, 2005)

Indian students on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming made gains on the state's WyCAS assessment test, the Associated Press reports. Among eighth-graders, only 57 percent of Wyoming Indian Middle School students were at the "low basic" level, down from...

Navajo Nation police dismiss 'Bigfoot' sighting (August 31, 2005)

Navajo Nation police say a reported sighting of "Bigfoot" in Nenahnezad, New Mexico, was actually a bear. Residents of the area told police they saw a large, hairy creature. Navajo Nation Rangers took a cast of the footprints left by...

CMU cites tribe's support in appeal for 'Chippewas' (August 31, 2005)

Central Michigan University filed an appeal over the school's inclusion in the NCAA's Indian mascot policy. CMU cited the support of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe, which has passed resolutions in favor of the "Chippewas" nickname. The school dropped its Indian...

Wrongful death suit against Nez Perce Tribe tossed (August 31, 2005)

A federal judge in Idaho dismissed a wrongful death suit that accused the Nez Perce Tribe of contributing to the death of a 17-year-old who was killed in a hunting accident. U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge said the tribe is...

Some in Red Lake worried about teen's closed trial (August 31, 2005)

Some members of the Red Lake Nation of Minnesota said they were concerned that they won't get to hear the evidence against Louis Jourdain, the only person charged in connection with the March 21, 2005, shootings on the reservation. Jourdain,...

Zapatista leader emerges with political agenda (August 31, 2005)

Subcommander Marcos, the leader of the Zapatista Indian rights movement in Mexico, has emerged from four years of hiding to promote a political agenda. Marcos held "town hall" meetings with a wide range of activists. He is calling for...

Spirit Lake Nation members oppose 'Fighting Sioux' (August 31, 2005)

Members of the Spirit Lake Nation voted on Tuesday to oppose the "Fighting Sioux" nickname and logo of the University of North Dakota, The Grand Forks Herald reported. The move came as UND lodged its official appeal of the...

Tribe, state sign Whiteclay policing agreement (August 31, 2005)

The Oglala Sioux Tribe and the state of Nebraska signed a deputization agreement on Tuesday to allow tribal officers to enforce state law in the border town of Whiteclay. Tribal president Cecelia Fire Thunder said the agreement will help address...

Tunica-Biloxi Tribe welcomes hurricane refugees (August 31, 2005)

The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe in central Louisiana has turned its convention center into a refuge for people fleeing the devastating Hurricane Katrina. The tribe has been housing 500 evacuees since Sunday morning, a spokesperson told Indian Country Today. Some are unable...

New Mexico tribe conducting study on wind farm (August 31, 2005)

The utility authority of Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico is conducting a $76,000 study on the feasibility of an 80-megawatt wind farm. The study will help determine whether to move forward with the $100 million farm. If it is built,...

U.S. claims 400 meth arrests in 'Operation Wildfire' (August 31, 2005)

The Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration claimed over 400 arrests in an anti-methamphetamine initiative known as "Operation Wildfire." The DOJ and DEA said the coordinated effort involved over 200 U.S. cities and , state, and local law...

Tribal leader wants probe of Griles-Abramoff links (August 31, 2005)

The chairman of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians called for an investigation of alleged contacts between former Interior deputy secretary J. Steven Griles and disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. D.K. Sprague has been leading his tribe, also known as the...

Abramoff set to go to trial in December on fraud (August 31, 2005)

Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff is set to go to trial December 12 on bank fraud charges. The Daily Business Review reported that Abramoff's lawyer tried to start the trial in March or April 2006. The judge, however, wanted to start...