Anderson motivates incoming students at Haskell (September 1, 2004)

Assistant secretary Dave Anderson spoke to incoming students at Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas on Tuesday. According to The Lawrence Journal-World, Anderson urged students to become political active. He said the Republican Nation Convention underway this week showcases minorities...

New superintendent named at BIA agency in Oklahoma (September 1, 2004)

Eddie Streater has been named superintendent of the Bureau of Indian Affairs agency in Wewoka, Oklahoma. Streater, a member of the Cherokee Nation, comes to the agency from a number of other BIA positions. Most recently, he was at the...

Absentee Shawnee Tribe to expand bank enterprise (September 1, 2004)

The Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma is building a new branch for the bank it recently acquired. The tribe bought AllNations Bank in Calumet, formerly The First National Bank of Calumet, last year. The new 3,500-square-foot AllNations Bank branch is...

Stolen painting of Indian man mysteriously returned (September 1, 2004)

A painting of a Taos Pueblo man that was stolen in January was mysteriously returned on Tuesday to an art gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. "Jerry with Apache Bow and Arrows" was a portrait of Jerry Mirabal of Taos....

Zuni Pueblo man sentenced to 10 years for car accident (September 1, 2004)

A federal judge sentenced a man from Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico 10 years in prison for a car accident that left a 4-year-old in a coma. Randall Zunie was sentenced to three times the recommended guidelines for the May...

Indian issues discussed at Republican caucus (September 1, 2004)

The ad-hoc Native American Caucus met again at the Republican Nation Convention on Tuesday. The nonpartisan National Congress of American Indians organized the morning session for Native delegates and others. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), a member of the Chickasaw Nation...

Navajo college student sees bright future in television (September 1, 2004)

Elliott Tso, a student at San Juan College in New Mexico, is hoping to bring more culturally-relevant programing to television viewers on the Navajo Nation. Tso knows realizing his dream will be difficult. But he takes inspiration from people like...

Two grants to combat domestic violence on reservation (September 1, 2004)

The Department of Justice has awarded two grants totaling more than $600,000 to combat domestic violence on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. The White Buffalo Calf Woman Society received a $306,005 grant. The money will be used to...

More charges laid in Crow corruption scandal (September 1, 2004)

Federal authorities have laid more charges in a corruption scandal involving the Crow Tribe of Montana. Kelly Dee Passes, the tribe's former finance director, and Elliot Mountain Sheep were indicted with conspiracy to defraud the tribe and theft of tribal...

State joins tribal lawsuit against mining company (September 1, 2004)

The state of Washington is joining a lawsuit filed by the Colville Confederated Tribes against a Canadian mining company accused of polluting the Columbia River. The tribes and the state want the Teck Cominco to comply with a federal cleanup...

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe rubs elbows at RNC (September 1, 2004)

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts doesn't have federal recognition but that didn't stop the party at this week's Republican National Convention. Tribal officials attended an event for Gov. Mitt Romney (R), The Cape Cod Times reported. They also hit...

Bush strategist now knows source of tribal funds (September 1, 2004)

A Republican strategist for President George W. Bush now says he was aware that tribes were funding his efforts but that he was not paid with casino revenues. Ralph Reed, former executive director of the anti-gambling Christian Coalition, first denied...

Inspector General investigation called 'bunch of b.s.' (September 1, 2004)

Officials from Connecticut acted with the usual outrage over a decision involving tribes that didn't go their way. The Interior Department's Inspector General concluded that the Bureau of Indian Affairs wasn't unduly influenced by lobbyists or casino backers in the...

Probe finds no wrongdoing in BIA recognition case (September 1, 2004)

An internal investigation has cleared outgoing Bureau of Indian Affairs deputy Aurene Martin of any wrongdoing in a highly politicized recognition case. Aurene Martin, who resigns as principal deputy assistant secretary next week, was the subject of intense criticism for...

Washington warns public not to consume fish from lake (September 1, 2004)

The state of Washington warned the public not to consume three types of fish from Lake Washington due to high levels of toxic chemicals. The state issued an advisory against eating the northern pikeminnow and to limit consumption of perch...

Federal agencies change minds on removal of dams (September 1, 2004)

The federal agencies overseeing dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers in the Pacific Northwest have reversed their position on the potential removal of the dams. During the Clinton administration, the National Marine Fisheries Service, Army Corps of Engineers and...