Editorial: Akaka wrong on drilling in Arctic refuge (September 19, 2006)

"Sen. Dan Akaka portrays Rep. Ed Case as a Republican in Democratic clothing, but on one important issue the two candidates are far apart in reverse roles. Case opposes drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, while Akaka...

Tribes hopeful after court hears sacred site case (September 19, 2006)

Tribal leaders and Native advocates expressed optimism last week after a federal appeals court heard their pleas to protect a sacred site in Arizona. Hundreds of people traveled to San Francisco, California, on Thursday to attend a hearing before the...

Education conferences in South Dakota, Montana (September 19, 2006)

Indian education will be the focus of two upcoming conferences, one in South Dakota and the other in Montana. The South Dakota Department of Education is hosting the annual Indian Education Summit in Pierre. The conference runs September 24-26 at...

Teen faces sentencing for murder of ex-girlfriend (September 19, 2006)

An 18-year-old Navajo faces sentencing for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Brooke Spencer, a Navajo basketball star. Philip Notah pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He admitted to stabbing Spencer, 18, outside her home on June 7. More than 1,000...

Mel Gibson to screen new film for Oklahoma Indians (September 19, 2006)

Controversial actor and director Mel Gibson will screen his new movie for small Indian audiences in Oklahoma. Gibson is scheduled to attend the three screenings for "Apocalypto." The movie is described as an action-adventure set in the "final days"...

BIA told to reinstate SIPI staff with $1M back pay (September 19, 2006)

The Bureau of Indian Affairs wrongfully fired 20 Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute employees and owes them about $1 million in back pay, an arbitrator ruled last week. The BIA made the layoffs in March 2005, citing budget restraints. But the...

Courts review $1.9B Native school abuse deal (September 19, 2006)

Courts across Canada are reviewing the $1.9 billion settlement for Native victims of residential school abuse. Judges in several provinces must approve the deal before it is finalized. They are holding public hearings to determine whether the payout is fair...

Funeral for Esther Martinez set for Wednesday (September 19, 2006)

The funeral for Esther Martinez, a nationally recognized Pueblo linguist and storyteller, will be held Wednesday at Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico. Martinez died in a car accident Saturday night. She was on her way home after receiving a National...

Mobile art exhibit shares Tohono, Yaqui culture (September 19, 2006)

Students at the 78 public schools in Tucson, Arizona, will be able to experience the art and culture of the Tohono O'odham Nation and the Yaqui Tribe. The traveling ARTSmobile features a new exhibit called "Sharing the Desert: The Tohono...

Gates grant brings Internet access to Navajo Nation (September 19, 2006)

A $15 million Bill and Melissa Gates Foundation grant has brought the Navajo Nation into the 21st century. The grant supplied satellite dishes and wireless Internet networks to all 110 chapters of the Navajo Nation. People of all ages are...

Bad River Band a finalist for Honoring Nations (September 19, 2006)

The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is one of 14 finalists for the Honoring Nations award from the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development. The Bad River Band was selected for its recycling and solid waste program....

Yakama Nation considers withdrawing tax deals (September 19, 2006)

The Yakama Nation is considering rescinding its tobacco and gas tax compacts with the state of Washington. The agreements were approved by two tribal officials without the consent of the tribal council, said council member Lavina Washines. "In fact, I...

Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe reschedules election (September 19, 2006)

The Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of Nevada has rescheduled its upcoming election. The original date was September 23. The new days is December 16. The election was rescheduled due to several problems with the election and balloting process. The tribe will...

Guilty Ney gives up final leadership post (September 19, 2006)

Outgoing Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) resigned his final leadership post in Congress on Monday. Ney gave up his chairmanship of a House Financial Services subcommittee. Previously, he stepped down as chairman of the House Administration Committee amid the investigation into...

Sen. Burns said to be under scrutiny after guilty plea (September 19, 2006)

Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Montana) is said to be under "particular scrutiny" from investigators in the Jack Abramoff scandal. Burns is chairman of the Senate Interior Appropriations subcommittee. He helped one of Abramoff's wealthy tribal clients obtain money for a school...

Tim Giago: Culturecide started with innocent children (September 19, 2006)

"When the settlers moved west they saw it as their responsibility to disrupt the civilization of the Lakota. Of course we know this as Manifest Destiny. Just as the Spaniards made it an edict to either convert the indigenous people...