NIGC's Class II rules come under fire from tribes (September 20, 2006)

Fresh from the defeat of an off-reservation casino bill, tribal leaders on Tuesday took aim at new regulations that would bring significant changes to the $23 billion Indian gaming industry. At an all-day hearing before the National Indian Gaming Commission,...

Hospital dedicates Native welcoming center (September 20, 2006)

Benefis Healthcare in Great Falls, Montana, dedicated its Native American Welcoming Center on Tuesday. The 1,200-square-foot center is a place for Native families can meet and pray while their loved ones receive care at the hospital. It will serve...

Illinois court rejects lawsuit againt Chief Illiniwek (September 20, 2006)

The 1st District Appellate Court in Illinois ruled 2-1 on Tuesday that dances by Chief Illiniwek, the University of Illinois' controversial mascot, do not violate the state's discrimination law. The Illinois Native American Bar Association said the mascot's performances...

More Indian students enroll at Syracuse University (September 20, 2006)

A new scholarship program for members of the Haudenosaunee nations has led to an increase in Indian student enrollment at Syracuse University in New York. This year, 45 new Indian students enrolled at SU. That's up from 16 new enrollees...

Yellow Bird: Global warming may be changing planet (September 20, 2006)

"The Badlands near the Montana border are beautiful this time of the year, but as in most of the western part of the state, it's very dry. Unfortunately, the roads in the Badlands are gravel and kick up so...

Five on trial for trafficking cocaine to Pine Ridge (September 20, 2006)

Five people are on trial for conspiracy to distribute cocaine to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Geraldine Blue Bird is alleged to be the head of the drug ring. She was arrested at a motel in Rapid City,...

Tulalip chairman reflects on long history with tribe (September 20, 2006)

Stan Jones turned 80 in July, with half of his life spent in a leadership position in the Tulalip Tribes. Jones has served on the tribal board of directors for 40 years. He's been chairman for 27 of those...

Miss Indian Nations focuses on youth, health care (September 20, 2006)

The newly crowned Miss Indian Nation says youth and health care are her top priorities. Ponka-We Victors, a Ponca and Tohono O'odham master's student at Wichita State University, said youth are losing their way to drugs, alcohol and suicide....

Man charged with death of Pueblo storyteller (September 20, 2006)

A 44-year-old man has been charged with vehicular homicide for the death of Esther Martinez, a nationally recognized Pueblo storyteller and linguist. Jaime Martinez Gonzalez, a Mexican national, drove his truck into the car carrying Martinez and her two...

Northern Cheyenne man cites double jeopardy in case (September 20, 2006)

A member of the Northern Cheyenne of Montana says the federal government can't prosecute him for a crime that the tribe already punished him for. Steven Christopher Brady Sr. faces federal misdemeanor charges for an incident involving a non-Indian doctor....

Morongo Band to welcome thousands for powwow (September 20, 2006)

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians is preparing to welcome more than 20,000 visitors to its annual Thunder and Lightning Powwow. The tribe started the powwow 16 years ago. It was a modest affair, with no prize money for dancers...

NMAI in Washington sees decline in visitors (September 20, 2006)

The National Museum of the American Indian saw a decline in visitors over the past year, The Washington Post reports. The museum, which opened in September 2004, saw 1.1 million visitors through August. That was down 500,000 from the same...

Iowa opinion backs Meskwaki Tribe's police powers (September 20, 2006)

The Meskwaki Tribe has the power to enforce state criminal laws, according to an opinion letter from the Iowa attorney general. The tribe recently hired its first police force in more than 70 years. The officers were due to hit...

Tohono O'odham Nation opposes border fence (September 20, 2006)

The Tohono O'odham Nation is opposing plans to build a 700-mile-long fence along the U.S.-Mexico border. The tribe's reservation spans 75 miles of the border. Leaders say the fence will keep their people and wildlife from crossing traditional O'odham...

State rejoins Eastern Shawnee Tribe's land claim (September 20, 2006)

A federal judge gave permission for the state of Ohio to rejoin the Eastern Shawnee Tribe's land claim. The Oklahoma-based tribe sued the state and other entities for millions of lost land. But the state was dropped as a defendant...

Cherokee chief vetoes minimum-wage hike (September 20, 2006)

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith vetoed a bill that would have raised the minimum wage for tribal employees to $8 an hour. Smith said he supports an increase in the minimum wage. But he wants it to be phased...

Burns denies being a target of Abramoff probe (September 20, 2006)

Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Montana) is not a target of the Jack Abramoff investigation, a staffer said. Speculation has grown that Burns may be next to fall after Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) pleaded guilty. But the staffer said Burns' criminal defense...

Republicans ask Ney to resign after guilty plea (September 20, 2006)

Outgoing Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) is rejecting calls from his party to resign from Congress after pleading guilty for his role in the Jack Abramoff scandal. Ney plans to hold onto his seat until the end of January 2007. He...

Senate committee hearing on self-governance (September 20, 2006)

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee is holding an oversight hearing this morning on tribal self-governance. The hearing is the committee's first on the topic during the 109th Congress. The witness list follows: Panel 1 MR. GEORGE SKIBINE Acting Deputy Assistant...