Piestewa family to appear on 'Extreme Makeover' (April 12, 2005)

The family of Lori Piestewa, the Hopi woman killed in action in Iraq, will appear on the season finale of the ABC television show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." The Piestewas are the first Native American family to appear on the...

Red Lake Tragedy: Healing ceremony at school (April 12, 2005)

An update on the latest developments involving the March 21, 2005, fatal shootings on the Red Lake Reservation in Minnesota. THE REOPENING A memorial outside Red Lake High School. ONLINE RESOURCES • Star Tribune: Red Lake School Shootings • Pioneer...

Bill to clean up mines near reservation debated (April 12, 2005)

A bill to clean up two abandoned mines near the Fort Belknap Reservation cleared its first vote in the Montana Senate on Monday. Sponsored by Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy (D), a member of the Chippewa Cree Tribes, the bill sets...

U.N. report focuses on education of indigenous people (April 12, 2005)

Indigenous people throughout the world continue to face numerous obstacles, disparities and challenges in the educational system, a United Nations official said on Monday. In his fourth report to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, Special Rapporteur Rodolfo Stavenhagen said...

State seizes cigarettes in Alaska Native village (April 12, 2005)

The state of Alaska seized 878 cartons of cigarettes from a store in the Alaska Native village of Naknek. No charges have been filed against the store owner. But others have been fined for failing to collect state taxes on...

Cayuga tribes confident on land claim appeal (April 12, 2005)

The Cayuga Nation of New York and the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma say the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in the Oneida Nation case may help their land claim appeal. The two tribes were awarded $247.9 million, including interest, for...

Yellow Bird: UND powwow a showcase of our culture (April 12, 2005)

"The weekend Wacipi at UND is history now. Yet I will remember this powwow for a long time to come. It will be the powwow after the shootings at Red Lake and the suicides at Standing Rock. Something hung in...

Navajo soldier returns from Iraq to meet penpals (April 12, 2005)

Army Specialist Kendrick Lapahie, a member of the Navajo Nation, finally got to meet the young who sent him care packages when he was stationed in Iraq. Lapahie had been receiving drawings and supplies from the kids in Luci Charley's...

Native leader blasts media over hate crimes trial (April 12, 2005)

The chief of Manitoba First Nation is criticizing the media for its coverage of the controversial hate crimes trial of a Native leader. David Ahenakew, a former chief of the Assembly of First Nations and former head of the Federation...

Column: Treatment of tribes by lobbyists an outrage (April 12, 2005)

"Two white Republican lobbyists were paid $82 million by a long-suffering minority, only to casually and habitually refer to their Native American clients as 'monkeys,' 'mofos,' 'troglodytes,' 'idiots' and 'morons.' Such charming comportment by Washington insiders no longer comes as...

BIA launches emergency probe of tribe's finances (April 12, 2005)

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is conducting an emergency financial review of the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians after tribal officials raised allegations of mismanagement. Five council members approached the BIA with concerns that tribal employees may be stealing...

George Kicking Woman, Blackfeet elder, dies (April 12, 2005)

George Kicking Woman, a spiritual leader of the Blackfeet Nation of Montana, died last Thursday just five days after turning 92. Kicking Woman was the keeper of the Thunder Pipe medicine bundle, which was passed down through his late...

Soboba woman leads effort to preserve tribe's culture (April 12, 2005)

Charlene Ryan, a member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, is leading an effort to preserve her tribe's history and culture. Ryan is the tribe's cultural program director. She started the Cham-Mix Poki, which means "House of our...

Cabazon Band disbands police force, makes layoffs (April 12, 2005)

Just a few months ago, the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians celebrated a court victory that upheld the rights of its law enforcement department. Now the California tribe has disbanded its entire police force as part of a major layoff...

Stevens wrong on claim that ANWR will help Natives (April 12, 2005)

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) made an inaccurate claim during last month's debate on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge when he said oil revenues will be shared with all Alaska Natives. "When one region gets money from natural resources,...

Review: NMAI film 'contrived' and unmemorable (April 12, 2005)

Ann Hornaday, a writer for The Washington Post, critiques a new film that will be playing at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. "A Thousand Roads" is a 43-minute movie that features vignettes of four Native people. It...

Tribal members charged with cigarette smuggling (April 12, 2005)

Seven Washington tribal members were charged with conspiracy, money laundering and other charges in what federal prosecutors said was a $7.4 million cigarette smuggling ring. The leader of the ring is alleged to be Stormy V. Paul, a member of...

BIA cop gets jail for domestic violence incident (April 12, 2005)

A former Bureau of Indian Affairs police officer was sentenced to jail, ordered to stay away from his wife and was told to become a role model for Lakota youth after pleading guilty to simple assault domestic violence. Patrick Swallow,...

Funding woes close Pine Ridge Head Start programs (April 12, 2005)

Financial and other problems have forced the closure of 24 Head Start programs on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The Bureau of Indian Affairs told the tribe to address three areas before the programs could resume. Phone service...

Editorial: Devils Tower already has fitting name (April 12, 2005)

"Our nation is made the richer by the American Indian names given to places and adopted by the settlers who came after. Wyoming, Dakota, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, Cheyenne, Omaha, and many thousands more are all colorful, unique, enriching names that...

Photos: Daschle at Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation (April 12, 2005)

Former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota) visited the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation on Sunday, April 3, where he was honored by the tribe and made an honorary tribal member. During the visit, the former senate leader was presented with a...

Richardson has signed 17 Indian bills into law (April 12, 2005)

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) has signed 17 Indian bills into law as of last week, according to the state's Indian Affairs Department. In the first session of the 47th Legislature, Richardson signed 12 bills from the Senate and...

New Mexico: Bills Related to Native Americans (April 12, 2005)

As of April 7, 2005, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has signed the following bills related to Native Americans into law. The bills were introduced during the first session of the 47th Legislature. Source: New Mexico Indian Affairs Department. SENATE...

Native law students host annual fundraiser (April 12, 2005)

The 2nd Annual NDNLaw'Plooza Concert, a fundraiser for the National Native American Law Students Association, will be held on Friday in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This year's concert features three Native acts. The headliner is Red Earth, a local band with...

'Where the hell were you when we were poor?' (April 12, 2005)

As tribes have become wealthy due to gaming and other enterprises, they are being lured into the Washington money game, says retired Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colorado). "Where the hell were you when we were poor?" Campbell asks in a...