FROM THE ARCHIVE

Facebook Twitter Email
In The Hoop
MAY 8, 2001

Welcome to In The Hoop, Indianz.Com's occasional column about assorted Indian issues.

Campbell: Human Rights Leader
Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.), the Senate's only Native American, has been officially appointed Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, more commonly known as the Helsinki Commission.

What is the Helsinki Commission, you ask? Well, its so important these days that no one seems to remember what it does. Or writes about it.

No, seriously, the commission focuses mainly on human rights issues in the international arena. In a statement, Campbell said that "protecting the rights of minorities will certainly be on my list of priorities as chairman."

But what can the Northern Cheyenne do about the United States losing a seat on the United Nations's Human Rights Commission? In The Hoop wants to hear a Campbell tirade about that.

Gas Guzzlers
Speaking of Campbell's tirades, gas prices throughout the nation are on the rise. So you might want to head over to your nearest reservation station for taxatory relief while you still can.

Like a number of other states, Nebraska and New Mexico are among the latest to complain about tribes stealing their hard-earned tax money away by offering competitively priced petrol in Indian Country. Why can't we all just get along?

But anyway, do these high prices mean Campbell won't be taking freshman Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) out for a spin on his Harley as promised? If he does, he might want to avoid all the traffic in DC.

And will this deter former Attorney General Janet Reno from her cross-country trip she's been waiting for for all these years? We hope not.

So In The Hoop would like to suggest Secretary of Interior Gale Norton join Reno for a Thelma & Louise ride to reservations throughout the nation. Seeing as how Norton is now apparently "too busy" with Cabinet meetings to visit those Indian school kids like she promised last month.

(Maybe they can pick up Adam Beach along the way.)

The Circuit
If you're up in the Northeast (or even if you're not), you'll want to check out Dartmouth College's annual pow-wow this weekend up in New Hampshire. May 12-13.

Or, if you're like many a tribal representative, you'll be heading to the midyear session of the National Congress of American Indians in Connecticut. May 13-16. Meet you at Foxwoods!

In Your Hoop
Got a tip? Have some insight? You might be published here. Email In the Hoop.