Appeals court rules against tribal jurisdiction (August 9, 2004)

A federal appeals court on Friday denied a Montana tribe's court jurisdiction over a fatal vehicle accident even though every party involved is Indian. James R. Smith, a member of Umatilla Tribe of Oregon, filed a negligence suit against the...

Miss Indian New Mexico regains title, some cash (August 9, 2004)

A judge in New Mexico ordered the New Mexico Council of American Indians to return the Miss Indian New Mexico crown to Paulene Shebala and to pay her $2,900 in attorney and other costs. Shebala filed suit against the council...

Means says South Dakota GOP needs to do more (August 9, 2004)

American Indian Movement activist Russell Means says the Republicans need to do more than just show up to pow-wows and other tribal events. "To get back on track, they need to rejuvenate their presence and not just show up at...

Third Leech Lake teen pleads guilty to brutal attack (August 9, 2004)

The last of three teens from the Leech Lake Ojibwe Reservation accused in the brutal beating death of a blind man pleaded guilty to murder. Jesse Royal Tapio, now 18, will be sentenced to second-degree intentional murder. Another teen was...

Bush tells journalists tribes 'given' sovereignty (August 9, 2004)

UNITY 2004: President Bush listens to question from Mark Trahant of the Native American Journalists Association. Audio Clip | Video | Full Transcript Democrats attacked President George W. Bush on Friday for stumbling to explain the meaning of tribal...

Tex Hall says employee press policy not a 'gag order' (August 9, 2004)

Tex Hall, chairman of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation of North Dakota and president of the National Congress of American Indians, said a recent memo threatening tribal employees with termination for speaking to the media is not a "gag...

Native girl awarded $8.6M for table accident (August 9, 2004)

A jury in Alaska has awarded $8.6 million to a 13-year-old Native girl who suffered permanent brain damage in an accident with a folding school cafeteria table. Taryn Andrew was 9 when she was injured at her school in the...

Arizona Republicans finally attracting Indian vote (August 9, 2004)

Arizona Republicans don't expect George W. Bush to take the Indian vote this November but the party is making inroads on the state's reservations. The San Carlos Apache Tribe endorsed Rep. Rick Renzi (R) for a second term against Democrat...

Kerry pledges support for Indian Country (August 9, 2004)

Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry (Massachusetts) pledged support for treaties and increased funding for Indian programs at a campaign stop in New Mexico on Sunday. Kerry attended the 83rd annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, where he spoke to a...

Obituary: Anne Keller, Lakota language instructor (August 9, 2004)

Anne Keller, a Lakota language instructor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln died last Wednesday from complications of a stroke. She was 87. Keller was a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. She began teaching Lakota at UNL...

New Great Plains director ready to tackle challenges (August 9, 2004)

The new director of the Great Plains regional office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs says self-determination, economic development and long-range planning are his top goals. Bill Benjamin, a member of the Blackfeet Nation, started his job in late May....

BIA takes on land consolidation in Great Plains region (August 9, 2004)

The Great Plains regional office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs says it will take up to 10 years to consolidate fractionated land. The BIA has contracted with Chickasaw Nation Industries to buy land from individual Indians. The land is...

Pioneer descendant aids Duwamish recognition (August 9, 2004)

The Duwamish Tribe of Washington deserves federal recognition, a descendant of one of the first pioneer families says. "I feel a responsibility to the Duwamish, and I feel that an injustice has been done," Amy Johnson tells The Seattle Post-Intelligencer....

Pechanga Band's growth spurs need for more water (August 9, 2004)

The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians is negotiating agreements to bring more water to the reservation. The tribe has experienced growth in recent years with the expansion of its casino. There are also concerns that water is running low due...

ITMA to hold listening sessions in Wisconsin, Arizona (August 9, 2004)

The Intertribal Monitoring Association's final two listening sessions on trust reform will be held this month in Wisconsin and Arizona. The Oneida Nation of Wisconsin will host the two-day conference on Thursday and Friday of this week. Later, the Tohono...

Mark Trahant: Bush's answer was slightly better (August 9, 2004)

"Four years ago, then Gov. Bush said that in a Texas tribal dispute, state law trumped the tribe's position. But last week Bush's answer was different. 'Tribal sovereignty means just that, you're a sovereign,' Bush said. When conflicts arise, he...

Alaska Native village sees boost from tourism (August 9, 2004)

The Alaska Native village of Hoonah is seeing a boost in its economy with the arrival of cruise ships. Thousands of tourists arrive in the Tlingit village, population 860, every week. They spent hundreds of dollars on arts and crafts,...

Coushatta member threatened over recall effort (August 9, 2004)

A member of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana is being threatened with legal action for her efforts to recall chairman Lovelin Poncho and two council members. In a letter to tribal members, Flo Pitre blasted Poncho for firing the employee...

Jodi Rave Lee: Gag order sign of poor leadership (August 9, 2004)

"You're fired! No, Donald Trump isn't in the house. This is the latest dictum from Three Affiliated Tribes Chairman Tex Hall to tribal employees who dare talk to the press. In a recent memo to employees of the Mandan, Hidatsa...