New Indian museum survives big opening week (September 28, 2004)

Click for More: NMAI Opening Week Photo Gallery The greater Washington, D.C., community received its official introduction to the National Museum of the American Indian on Monday night with a gala reception that marked the end of the opening...

Opinion: George W. Bush just like George A. Custer (September 28, 2004)

"President Bush likes to think of himself as a "war President," who is "resolute," "steadfast," and "decisive." He also likes to compare himself to historical figures. His favorite is Winston Churchill who led Great Britain through the horrors of World...

Column: Museum reflects change of attitudes (September 28, 2004)

"It's hard to believe there was a time when it was acceptable to put the skulls of American Indians in boxes lined with green felt and display them in a gas station in southern Idaho. How would Irish Americans feel...

Editorial: Schwarzenegger wrong on mascot bill (September 28, 2004)

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should have done his homework on the origin of the word ‘Redskin’ before nixing a bill that would ban the use of the offensive name on five school campuses in California. His reasoning, that “Decisions regarding athletic...

Elouise Cobell: Justice for Indian trust fund (September 28, 2004)

Elouise Cobell of the Blackfeet Nation of Montana is the lead plaintiff in the Indian Indian Money (IIM) trust fund lawsuit. On September 15, attorneys for the plaintiffs and defendants in Cobell v. Norton argued the appeal of what has...

Tigua Tribe outraged over being played as 'moronic' (September 28, 2004)

Leaders of the Tigua Tribe of Texas say they are upset that to Washington, D.C., lobbyists they hired were also working against their interests. The tribe gave $4.2 million to lobbyist Jack Abramoff and political consultant Michael Scanlon in hopes...

Morongo Band in talks over future of tiny airport (September 28, 2004)

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians has been meeting with officials in Banning, California, about the future of the city's tiny airport. Both sides won't divulge details but the tribe is interested in linking the airport to its $250 million...

Editorial: Don't appeal Indian voting rights case (September 28, 2004)

"As painful as it would have been, Gov. Mike Rounds and Attorney General Larry Long should have rejected any ideas of appealing a voting rights decision that favored Native Americans and simply set the Legislature to work redrawing district boundaries....

Poll finds Herseth with strong lead over Diedrich (September 28, 2004)

Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-South Dakota) has a 7-point lead over Republican challenger Larry Diedrich, according to a new poll. According to the Argus Leader/KELO-TV poll, 49 percent of voters favor Herseth compared to 42 percent for Diedrich. About 1 percent...

Several wanted in connection with reservation death (September 28, 2004)

At least four people are facing charges for the stabbing death of a man on the Lower Sioux Reservation in Minnesota. Robert F. Berry, 50, was stabbed at least 14 times last Friday morning. He lived on the reservation. Authorities...

Bad Eagle: Not all 'Indians' belong in museum (September 28, 2004)

"It’s official: the new National Museum of the American Indian declares all brown-skinned people of the Western hemisphere are now “American Indian.” All “indigenous” people of North, Central, and South America, and even Pacific Islanders, are aggrandized in the $219...

Tulalip Tribes eye hotel, convention center (September 28, 2004)

The Tulalip Tribes of Washington are moving forward with plans for a hotel and convention center now that a NASCAR site will be built nearby. Chairman Stan Jones Sr. said the tribe wants to attract NASCAR fans to the Quil...

Pala Band raises water in fight against landfill (September 28, 2004)

A coalition led by the Pala Band of Mission Indians is using the threat of water contamination to fight a proposed landfill. San Diegans for Clean Drinking Water says the Gregory Canyon dump would sit atop a major aquifer. They...

Editorial: First Americans finally get due respect (September 28, 2004)

"America's first citizens are finally getting their due respect. The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian opened last week amid much fanfare and Native American ceremony. The museum commemorates the cultures of 500 Indian groups that called the...

Yellow Bird: First visit to NMAI proves exciting (September 28, 2004)

"The National Museum of the American Indian on the Mall in Washington, D.C., is the first of its kind in America. Board members promised that this museum will continue to change and grow - it will get even better, they...

Group fights plans for Wal-Mart near Aztec ruins (September 28, 2004)

A group of business owners, educators and other people interested in preserving Mexico's Indian heritage are fighting a Wal-Mart subsidiary store under construction only a mile from the Aztec city of Teotihuacán. Local officials and government archaeologists approved the 71,902-square-foot...

First Ute attends University of Utah law school (September 28, 2004)

David Cuch is said to be the first member of the Ute Tribe of Utah to attend the University of Utah law school. Cuch said he's used to being the first. He holds an economics degree from Westminster College...

Eastern Cherokees award $4.5 million in grants (September 28, 2004)

The Eastern Band of Cherokees awarded $4.5 million in grants to preserve Cherokee culture and promote economic development. The tribe's Cherokee Preservation Foundation gave money to projects on and off the reservation. Some $2.3 million will be used for low-interest...

Tribe wants to create private hospital for Indians (September 28, 2004)

An unidentified California tribe wants to buy the San Jose Medical Center and turn it into a privately-run hospital for Indians in the state. A group of investors from Michigan is working with the tribe, whom they refused to name....

Miccosukee Tribe shells out $1M for first debate (September 28, 2004)

The Miccosukee Tribe of Florida donated $1 million to the University of Miami to sponsor the first presidential debate between George W. Bush and John Kerry. The tribe won't get any mentions during the debate, which takes place on Thursday....

Editorial: Actions of tribal lobbyists 'loathsome' (September 28, 2004)

"'IS LIFE GREAT or what!!!' Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff dashed off that exuberant e-mail to his business partner, public relations consultant Michael Scanlon, on Feb. 19, 2002. The two men were angling to get hired by the Tigua Indian tribe,...

Tribes told to donate to lobbyists' foundation (September 28, 2004)

Tribes whose lobbying activities are the subject of a Senate hearing gave millions to a charity run by a lobbyist who diverted the money to personal projects, including an overseas golf trip, The Washington Post reports. The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe...