Lamberth critical of Norton's 'bad faith' on trust fund (October 25, 2004)

Blasting the Interior Department's "sordid history of mismanagement and neglect," a federal judge on Friday ordered the government to inform Indian beneficiaries of their rights in the long-running trust fund case. In a 46-page decision, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth...

Montana county to appeal Native voting case (October 25, 2004)

Over the objections of tribal members and the lone Indian on the commission, Blaine County, Montana, voted 2-1 to appeal a Native voting rights case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the county's at-large...

Navajos see hope in a Kerry administration (October 25, 2004)

Navajos who live on the Navajo Reservation say it's time for a change in the White House. They are voting for Sen. John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) for president. One major reason is education. Navajos say the Bush administration has cut funding...

Norton given Paugussett recognition case (October 25, 2004)

The Golden Hill Paugussett Tribe's federal recognition appeal has been given to Interior Secretary Gale Norton. The tribe was denied recognition in a final decision by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The tribe appealed to the Interior Board of Indian...

Domenici: Navajos 'out of touch' for Dem support (October 25, 2004)

Navajo Nation leaders "are out of touch with reality" for supporting Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry, Sen. Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico) said on Saturday. "They don't know that this administration has done more for Indian education than any administration...

Alaska Natives: Vote for your children and the future (October 25, 2004)

"We as Alaska Natives are Alaska's first people, and we have a voice we must use. Only 80 years have passed since American Indians have had the right to vote. Our grandparents were not allowed to vote, but we are....

Rural economic development tops AFN agenda (October 25, 2004)

The Alaska Federation of Natives holds its annual conference in Anchorage this week with a focus on creating jobs in rural villages. "Strengthening our Economies" is this year's theme. Panels and speakers will focus on creating sustainable communities. Karti Sandilya,...

Making every vote count in Indian Country (October 25, 2004)

Tribal leaders, political activists and the Democrat and Republican parties have made an unprecedented effort to increase the Native vote this year. The National Congress of American Indians hopes to send 1 million Natives to the polls on November 2....

Indian candidates take the next step in politics (October 25, 2004)

As political awareness in Indian Country grows, Natives are taking the next step and running for political office at the local or state level. "You need to run for every city, county local government office there is. They have to...

White House wonders why Indians not receptive (October 25, 2004)

The White House and the Bush administration don't think Indian Country likes them, a prominent tribal leader and Republican tells Native reporter Jodi Rave Lee. "I've heard over the last four years the question from the White House: ‘Why is...

Bruce Whalen: Interview with an Indian Republican (October 25, 2004)

Dorreen Yellow Bird, a Native reporter for The Grand Forks Herald, interviews Bruce Whalen, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, on his affiliation with the Republican Party. Whalen attended the Republican National Convention as an alternate delegate from South...

Poll: Herseth still leads Diedrich but gap narrowing (October 25, 2004)

Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-South Dakota) still leads Republican Larry Diedrich by 48 percent to 44 percent but the gap between the two candidates has narrowed in recent months, according to the latest poll. Herseth won the special election in June...

Indian law will be added to Washington bar exam (October 25, 2004)

The Washington State Bar Association's board voted unanimously on Friday to add an Indian law section to the state bar exam. The summer 2007 exam will be the first to test aspiring lawyers on the basics of tribal sovereignty. Indian...

Russell Means arrested for missing court date (October 25, 2004)

Activist/actor Russell Means says there is "no excuse" for failing to appear in federal court on some misdemeanor traffic charges. Means says he missed the date because he is "just campaigning too hard" for the presidency of the Oglala Sioux...

Search continues for five-year-old Native girl (October 25, 2004)

Police in Regina, Saskatchewan, say they are continuing to search for Tamra Keepness, a five-year-old Native girl who has been missing since July. The investigation is the largest in the history of the Regina police, said an inspector. Police have...

Nebraska panel chooses 'Great Plains Indian Highway' (October 25, 2004)

The Nebraska Highway Commission on Friday recommended to name a 87-mile stretch of a highway the "Great Plains Indian Highway" to pay tribute to tribes in the state. The stretch of Nebraska state road 25 is near many Native sites,...

Official tells Chickasaw land-into-trust tactics (October 25, 2004)

The Chickasaw Nation intended to "mislead" the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the tribe's land-into-trust requests, a former top official says. David Brown, the tribe's lieutenant governor from 1991 to 1999, says the tribe would tell the BIA that the...

Tribal jury issues $2.5M verdict against oil company (October 25, 2004)

A jury of the Shoshone and Arapaho Tribal Court recently handed down a $2.5 million verdict against an oil company in a workplace injury case. Corey Johnston, an employee of R&S Well Service, was working at a production rig on...

Video game features fans in 'Chippewa' dress (October 25, 2004)

The maker of a video game featuring fans in stereotypical Indian dress says it will remove the images from upcoming versions. Officials with the Central Michigan University and the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe were upset after seeing the images in NCAA...

Duwamish chairwoman keeps fighting for recognition (October 25, 2004)

Cecile Hansen, chairwoman of the Duwamish Tribe of Washington for 29 years, was honored for her efforts to gain federal recognition. Hansen received one of five "Spirit of America Awards" last Thursday. The award recognized her commitment to correcting what...

Russian Natives, Makah Nation share culture, whales (October 25, 2004)

The Makah Nation of Washington and Chukchi Natives of Russia will meet today to share dances and songs related to one of their most important traditions: whaling. The Makahs resumed whaling in 1998 thanks in part to the Chukchis. The...

Mark Trahant: Vote early and avoid campaign sleaze (October 25, 2004)

"I am vaccinated. I am no longer vulnerable to sleazy political advertising, last-minute campaign pitches or urgent pleas to vote this or that way. I already have voted; I am free. For the next two weeks, the phrase "I am...

Yellow Bird: Cell phones now a part of rez life (October 25, 2004)

"If you're driving along -- whistling or humming, I suspect, because you're glad you're now on the reservation -- you might see a relative or neighbor on some high hill, standing beside his car, yelling. You'll smile and wave. He's...