Bear Butte camp continues as biker week approaches (July 27, 2006)

Native activists who are camped out at sacred Bear Butte are awaiting the arrival of thousands of bikers for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Tribal members are calling attention to the growing encroachment of the butte. They are trying to stop...

Blackfeet Nation hosts Lewis and Clark symposium (July 27, 2006)

The Blackfeet Nation of Montana is hosting a four-day symposium on the Lewis and Clark expedition. The tribe encountered the explorers 200 years ago. Eight Blackfeet boys tried to steal horses from the expedition. Two of them were killed. The...

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe discusses recognition (July 27, 2006)

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the town of Mashpee sat down for the first time since the tribe won preliminary federal recognition. Tribal and town officials said the meeting was productive. They plan to issue a joint statement today. The...

12-year-old Alaska Native boy dies inhaling gas (July 27, 2006)

A 12-year-old Alaska Native boy from the Yup'ik village of Mountain Village died early Monday after inhaling gas fumes. Anthony Waskey was with his two older brothers and a friend when they were huffing fumes from a gas can....

Editorial: Poverty and murder in Lumbee country (July 27, 2006)

"Robeson is the largest of North Carolina's 100 counties. It is a mostly rural expanse in the state's southeast, astride I-95, with Lumberton at its center. It has long suffered desperate poverty. In 2000, nine percent of North Carolinians were...

BIA officials faulted for student's death still at work (July 27, 2006)

The Bureau of Indian Affairs knew about, but failed to correct, problems at a boarding school in Oregon where a 16-year-old student died after being placed in a detention cell, according to a scathing investigation made public on Wednesday. Citing...

Reno-Sparks Tribe to break ground on health center (July 27, 2006)

The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony in Nevada is breaking ground today on a $19 million health center. The 65,000-square-foot facility is expected to open in September 2007. It replaces a 14,000-square-foot clinic that the tribe has outgrown. The tribe financed...

First Nations chief dies in canoe journey accident (July 27, 2006)

Jerry Jack, the chief of the Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation of British Columbia was killed on Wednesday when the canoe he was riding in overturned. Jack, 55, and five other tribal members were taking part in the annual InterTribal Canoe Journey....

Investigation sought into shooting of Navajo man (July 27, 2006)

Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. wants an independent investigation into the fatal shooting of a Navajo man by a police officer in Farmington, New Mexico. Shirley said he is not satisfied by the Department of Justice's decision not to...

Grand River Band brings 1856 treaty back to Michigan (July 27, 2006)

An 1856 treaty between the United States and the Ottawa and Chippewa tribes is on display in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Ron Yob, the chairman of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, is the great-great-great-great-grandson of Maish-ke-aw-she, one of the...

Court hearing on Fire Thunder impeachment delayed (July 27, 2006)

A court hearing on the impeachment of Cecelia Fire Thunder as president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe has been delayed. The hearing, originally set for this Friday, was postponed after the judge recused herself. A new judge is being assigned...

Navajo Nation moves to fight land dispute bill (July 27, 2006)

The Navajo Nation Council is joining Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr. in opposition to a bill that seeks to end the Navajo-Hopi land dispute. Navajo leaders say S.1003, sponsored by Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), is unfair to the tribe. They...

County seeks better relations with Cow Creek Band (July 27, 2006)

Commissioners in Douglas County, Oregon, said they want to improve relations with the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians but one official remains at odds over a pending land-into-trust application. The board of commissioners voted 2-1 to...

Accounting firm defends social relations with OST (July 27, 2006)

An accounting firm that won $6.6 million in work from the Office of Special Trustee says its close relationship with senior officials didn't affect the contracting process. Executives from Chavarria, Dunne & Lamey of New Mexico frequently socialized with top...

Native soldier from Michigan killed on duty in Iraq (July 27, 2006)

A Native soldier from a small town in Michigan was killed on duty in Iraq, The Muskegon Chronicle reports. U.S. Army Spc. Dennis K. Samson, 24, was killed by enemy gunfire on Monday. His tribal affiliation was not reported. His...

House committee takes up IGRA amendments (July 27, 2006)

The House Resources Committee on Wednesday voted 27-9 to approve controversial amendments to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. [MP3 - 81:26 - 18.6MB] H.R.4893 amends Section 20 of the law. Rep. Richard Pombo (R-California), the chairman of the committee, said...

City Paper: Troubles at Little Earth housing complex (July 27, 2006)

"An evening rain has just cleared, and some of the residents of Little Earth are emerging from their apartments to enjoy the summer night. Vinnie, a 36-year-old mother of four, is out for a stroll along the grounds of the...

Mohawk attorney to prosecute reservation cases (July 27, 2006)

Patrick J. Herne, a member of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, is the newest assistant district attorney in Franklin County. Herne, 37, is the first Native American to hold a DA post. He will prosecute cases from the St....