Series on food and nutritional problems facing Indian Country (March 5, 2012)

"The battle with obesity has become one of the most urgent health issues in America today, as over one third of adults and 17 percent of children are now obese. But for Native Americans, this problem is even more dire....

Billy Frank: Treaties offer protection for traditional tribal foods (March 5, 2012)

"These short, cold, rainy and sometimes snowy days of winter always make me think about our treaties. It was during this time of year more than 150 years ago that the U.S. government negotiated most of its treaties with tribes...

ICT interview with Bill John Baker, new Cherokee Nation chief (March 5, 2012)

"What was your primary focus these past couple of months? The first 30 days, we were drinking directly out of a fire hose. We’ve got the nozzle turned down just a little bit now. We’ve been trying to look at...

Chelsea Vowel: Prescription abuse a problem for First Nations (March 5, 2012)

"OxyContin is a powerful and potentially addictive painkiller. As has been noted in a number of other news reports, abuse of this drug is a Canada-wide problem. In November 2009, the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), which represents 49 First Nations...

NWPR: Columbia River treaty tribes keep their traditions alive (March 5, 2012)

"Columbia River Indian tribes are keeping their ancient traditions alive in the coming weeks with ceremonies to open their spring fisheries. Predictions of strong salmon runs are giving the tribes extra reason to celebrate. To get to the Dallesport Treaty...

Bob Garcia: Tribe seeks to be a partner on forest management (March 5, 2012)

"The members of the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians live and work in the communities designated as potential beneficiaries in two federal forest land management proposals currently under review in the U.S. House of Representatives....

Southern Ute Tribe wins EPA backing for air permitting program (March 5, 2012)

The Environmental Protection Agency has approved an air permitting program for the Southern Ute Tribe of Colorado. The tribe will be able to issue permits and perform inspections at sources of air emissions on the reservation. The effort is...

Blog: Indigenous women played key roles in women's history (March 5, 2012)

"The month of March is officially Women's History Month here in the U.S. As a woman of color, I often feel that my womanhood is overlooked since I am more likely to be placed in the minority part of the...

Bill in Oklahoma limits role of tribes in environmental process (March 5, 2012)

The Oklahoma Senate voted 41-4 on February 20 to pass SB 1050, a bill that limits the role of tribes in setting state environmental policy. Sen. Greg Treat (R), the sponsor of the bill, said tribes can still comment on...

Terry Beckwith: Termination today taking place behind scenes (March 5, 2012)

"I grew up during the Termination Era of the 1950s. The 1950s style termination was wide open. Congress told the tribes they were going to terminate the federal tribal relationship. Congressional hearings were held on the reservation. House Concurrent Resolution...

NPR: Crossing the country in search of indigenous languages (March 5, 2012)

"The vast majority of the 175 indigenous languages still spoken in the United States are on the verge of extinction. Linguist Elizabeth Little spent two years driving all over the country looking for the few remaining pockets where those...

Native American Contractors Association selects new director (March 5, 2012)

The Native American Contractors Association has selected a new executive director. Kevin J. Allis is a member of the Forest County Potawatomi Community of Wisconsin. He serves as chairman of the board of directors of Potawatomi Business Development Corporation, the...

Mary Pember: Wisconsin tribes prepared to defend land, water (March 5, 2012)

"Wisconsin's legislature is considering rules that would make new mining operations swfiter to begin and less subject to oversight. But the state's Native American tribes, with experience behind them, are prepared to defend their land and water. "Lake Superior Chippewa...

Van Barfoot, Choctaw Medal of Honor recipient, passes at 92 (March 5, 2012)

Van T. Barfoot, a Choctaw man who received the Medal of Honor for his service during World War II, died on Friday. He was 92. Barfoot received the medal for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above...

Ex-Mashpee Wampanoag leader will be released from prison (March 5, 2012)

Glenn Marshall, the former chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts, will be released from federal prison sometime this month, The Cape Cod Times reports Marshall was sentenced to 3.5 years on corruption and embezzlement charges. His release date...

Leech Lake Band threatens litigation over share of trust fund (March 5, 2012)

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Indians says it will go to court if Congress approves a bill to distribute a $28 million trust fund. H.R.1272, the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Judgment Fund Distribution Act, would distribute $300 to each of...

Shell sues Alaska Native opponent of off-shore development (March 5, 2012)

Shell Oil has sued an Alaska Native organization and other environmental groups in hopes of gaining approval of its off-shore drilling plan. REDOIL, or Resisting Environmental Destruction on Indigenous Lands, has been involved in litigation against drilling in the...

NCAI hosts tribal leaders for winter session in Washington, DC (March 5, 2012)

The National Congress of American Indians is hosting its 2012 executive council winter session in Washington, D.C., this week. The meeting begins tomorrow and runs through Thursday at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel. Tribal leaders will hear from members of Congress...

Opinion: Sealaska trying to get best timber in national forest (March 5, 2012)

"For nearly a decade, Sen. Lisa Murkowski has failed to move legislation through Congress that would change the locations where Sealaska Corporation may select its final 132 square miles of entitlements under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. But no...

Review: 'Birch Coulie' is essential reading on the Dakota War (March 5, 2012)

"On Labor Day 1930, an 85-year-old man named Robert Boyd shuffled across a wooden stage toward a microphone on the rolling plains of western Minnesota, 16 miles northeast of Fort Ridgely. Thousands of folks had driven up gravel roads...

MPR: Tribes in Minnesota seek a role in child custody matters (March 5, 2012)

"Minnesota American Indian tribes and their allies in the state Legislature are seeking to plug a gap in child custody laws opened by a state Supreme Court decision last year. The court's decision derailed the common practice of giving tribal...

Letter: Oglala Sioux Tribe should consider a 'wet' reservation (March 5, 2012)

"The Indian reservation at Pine Ridge and about two miles from Whiteclay, Neb., is suing the beer distributors serving White Clay as the tribe maintains such products are contaminating and disrupting the lives of natives served at Whiteclay. The natives...

Editorial: Federal judge who sent racist email must step down (March 5, 2012)

"Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull has failed to exhibit good behavior in communicating an ugly, offensive email message that is terribly disrespectful of President Barack Obama, the president’s deceased mother, women, black Americans and citizens who voted for Obama....

Gyasi Ross: March a special time for Indian Country basketball (March 5, 2012)

"This time of the year is special in the eyes of many Skins. No, it’s not because of the Shamrock Shakes at McDonalds for St. Patrick’s Day or because of our historic love for daffodils. Instead, the beginning of March...

Tim Giago: Religion caused near destruction of Lakota families (March 5, 2012)

Notes from Indian Country By Tim Giago (Nanwica Kciji) © 2012 Unity South Dakota I was struck by an article by David Rooks in the Rapid City Journal on March 2. David Rooks is a nice guy. He was also...