Leech Lake chairman declares war on 'thugs' (November 14, 2005)

George Goggleye, the chairman of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, has declared war on "thugs" in response to a series of violent deaths and crimes on the reservation. An October 21 shooting left Brandon Humphrey, 17, dead and two...

White Earth chairwoman sees success, setbacks (November 14, 2005)

As the first woman to be elected chairwoman of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, Erma Vizenor has seen some successes and setbacks in her first year of office. Vizenor said she is pleased the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe is...

Agua Caliente Band finds new home for museum (November 14, 2005)

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians says its new $40 million museum will open in late 2008. The tribe has chosen a site in downtown Palm Springs. Michael Hammond, the museum's executive director, said the location could attract 150,000...

Oklahoma group combats domestic violence (November 14, 2005)

With statistics showing high rates of violence against Native women, the Spirits of Hope group is working to combat domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking in Oklahoma's Indian Country. According to the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic...

NIGC adopts new approach for tribal gaming sites (November 14, 2005)

As controversy over the location of tribal casinos continues, the National Indian Gaming Commission has slowly expanded the reach of the federal law that paved the way for the $19 billion industry. In a series of recent determinations, the agency's...

Raiders game broadcast on KTNN in Navajo (November 14, 2005)

History was made on Sunday night with the first-ever NFL Raiders football game to be broadcast in Navajo. The Oakland Raiders and KTNN, the voice of the Navajo Nation, teamed up to make the presentation. KTNN broadcasters L.A. Williams...

Ex-cop faces jury again for Alaska Native murder (November 14, 2005)

A former police officer is facing a second jury for the murder of Sonya Ivanoff, a 19-year-old Alaska Native woman. Matthew Owens went on trial last year for murdering Ivanoff, whose body was found in August 2003 in Nome,...

Mark Trahant: Media sometimes isn't fair (November 14, 2005)

"A philosophical question: Which is a higher journalism value, fairness or truth? Much of the time it's a question that need not be answered. We can pursue the truth -- and be fair to constituent groups in a story. But...

Santa Ysabel Band honors veterans in ceremony (November 14, 2005)

The Santa Ysabel Band of Diegueño Indians held a ceremony on Saturday to honor its veterans. A bell sounded 90 times for every tribal member who died in wars dating dating to World War I, The San Diego Union-Tribune...

Senator denies links to Abramoff scandal (November 14, 2005)

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) denies efforts by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff contributed to his legal battles against two Texas tribes. As attorney general of Texas, Cornyn sued the Tigua Tribe and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe to shut down their casinos....

Yellow Bird: Smoking a hard addiction to break (November 14, 2005)

"I used to smoke years ago. My smoking habits made me robotlike. When the phone rang, I automatically reached for my cigarettes. Smoking and talking on the phone went together like a glass of wine and a Marlboro. My hand...

NCAA allows 'Illini' but rejects 'Chief Illiniwek' (November 14, 2005)

The NCAA issued a mixed ruling on the University of Illinois nickname and mascot. The NCAA said the school's "Fighting Illini" is acceptable because it is not based on any tribe. But the NCAA reaffirmed that "Chief Illiniwek" is...

Winnebagos hold protest to demand $599 per cap (November 14, 2005)

Members of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska held a protest on Friday to demand a $599 per capita payment. The tribal members rallied outside the offices of Ho-Chunk Inc., the tribe's economic development corporation. They said HCI needs to distribute...

Opinion: Griles' role in lobbying scandal still a mystery (November 14, 2005)

"Michael Rossetti grew increasingly "concerned" when J. Stephen Griles took an interest in whether the Jena Band of Choctaws received a gambling site in Louisiana back in 2003. Rossetti, then counsel to U.S. Secretary of Interior Gail Norton, recently...

Judge keeps Red Lake shootings trial closed (November 14, 2005)

A federal judge refused to open the trial of Louis Jourdain, the only person charged in connection with the March 21, 2005, shootings on the Red Lake Reservation in Minnesota. But families of some of the victims may seek to...

Yakama family seeks $1.7M for death in BIA jail (November 14, 2005)

The family of a Yakama Nation man who committed suicide at a Bureau of Indian Affairs jail is seeking $1.7 million in damages. The suit says Ricky O. Sampson, 39, killed himself due to deplorable conditions at the jail. He...

FBI to probe string of deaths, disappearances (November 14, 2005)

A special unit of the FBI has been called in to investigate a string of incidents in which Native villagers went missing or died while visiting the town of Nome, The Anchorage Daily News reports. The FBI Behavioral Analysis...

Three suspects arrested in Navajo triple homicide (November 14, 2005)

The FBI arrested three people in connection with a drug-related triple homicide on the Navajo Nation. A fourth suspect remained on the loose as of Sunday night. Chuck Custer Nahkai, 29, and Darcy Robert Manus, 22, were arrested after...

Abramoff scandal hangs over Republican leaders (November 14, 2005)

The Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal is a cloud that hangs over Republican leaders and their activities, The Christian Science Monitor reports. As a high-paid lobbyist, Abramoff wooed tribal clients with the promise of access to top Republicans. By his...