Senate hearing to tackle land-into-trust process (May 10, 2005)

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee will hold an oversight hearing next week on the taking of land into trust, a process that Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) has identified as a "huge problem." The hearing is the first in several years...

Court upholds conviction for drug-related death (May 10, 2005)

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday upheld the conviction and 23-year prison sentence of a Blackfeet Reservation woman for the drug-related death of another woman. Rosemary Houston sold prescription methadone to Trina Bradford for $2 a pill, leading...

Students in Oregon send blanket to Red Lake (May 10, 2005)

High school students from Oregon are sending a gift and condolences to their counterparts on the Red Lake Ojibwe Reservation in Minnesota. Thurston High School was the scene of a deadly shooting incident seven years ago this month. Although no...

Men to go trial for cattle theft on reservation (May 10, 2005)

Two non-Indian men will go to trial for alleged cattle theft on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Walter Schultz Jr., 40, and Ronald Jensen, 66, are each charged with six counts of alteration of brands, five counts of...

Tim Giago: South Dakota press censors Indian writers (May 10, 2005)

"I am censored from writing for the [Rapid City] Journal by its publisher Bill Masterson because I had the audacity to criticize his newspaper at a journalism conference at Crazy Horse Memorial a couple of years ago. I admit that...

Tribe expands partnership with Phoenix Suns (May 10, 2005)

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community has expanded its partnership with the Phoenix Suns, an NBA team. The tribe bought the naming rights to the entrance at the America West Arena in Phoenix. The entrance will be known as the...

BIA said to issue new land-into-trust checklist (May 10, 2005)

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has issued a new checklist for land-into-trust applications, according to Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal. The new list was reportedly issued in March. It limits the input of state and local governments, Blumenthal said. The...

Native students compete in science fair in Arizona (May 10, 2005)

Five Native students from Arizona are taking part in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix this week. The five students represent the Gila River Indian Community and the Navajo Nation. It's the largest delegation of Native American...

Makah Nation makes plans for mini-mart, motel (May 10, 2005)

The Makah Nation of Washington is pursuing an aggressive development strategy to improve economic opportunities. The tribe is planning to open a mini-mart by July 1 and a motel in another year. A tramway, an expanded casino, visitors center and...

Hayworth reimburses tribes for use of luxury suites (May 10, 2005)

Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Arizona), the co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, has reimbursed two tribes nearly $13,000 for using luxury sports arena suites that were leased by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Hayworth filed a statement with the Federal Election...

Mississippi Band teams up with college to offer degree (May 10, 2005)

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians signed a partnership with East Central Community College on Monday to offer an associate degree program in hotel and restaurant management. The tribe and the college will offer courses at the tribe's Pearl River...

South Carolina tribe welcomes state recognition (May 10, 2005)

State recognition will improve the way of life for members of the Wassamasaw Tribe of South Carolina, a tribal official said. Lisa Leach, the tribal administrator, said state recognition will allow tribal members to market and sell their goods as...

Race an issue as Native man goes on trial for murder (May 10, 2005)

Race has surfaced as an issue in the trial of a Canadian Native man charged with kidnapping, sexually assaulting and murdering a six-year-old girl. Clifford Sleigh, 43, is accused of taking and killing Corinne "Punky" Gustavson more than a decade...

9th Circuit rejects minority contracting policy (May 10, 2005)

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday rejected the state of Washington's minority contracting policy as unconstitutional but upheld federal law affecting Indian and other minority businesses. The state of Washington hasn't proved minority contractors suffer from discrimination, a...

Stensgar steps down as Coeur d'Alene chairman (May 10, 2005)

Ernie Stensgar, the longtime chairman of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe of Idaho, resigned unexpectedly, The Spokesman Review reports. Stensgar has served as chairman for nearly 20 years. During this time, the tribe won numerous political and legal battles on gaming,...

Column: Don't hold your breath waiting for BIA (May 10, 2005)

"Fire swept through a dormitory of Crow Creek School in Stephan on April 24, displacing students and threatening the operation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school. The problem: how to erect a dormitory by August, when students return...

Crow Creek Tribe, state sign school agreement (May 10, 2005)

The Crow Creek Sioux Tribe and the state of South Dakota signed an agreement on Monday to replace the student dormitory that was destroyed by a recent fire. Crow Creek Chairman Duane Big Eagle and Gov. Mike Rounds (R)...

Second expert describes hack of Interior Department (May 10, 2005)

Internet Vulnerability Documents: OIG Memo 1 | OIG Memo 2 | OIG Findings | Internet Security Systems (ISS) Report on BLM From the Indianz.Com Archive: Interior's security weaknesses not unique: NBC vulnerable to attack (January 17, 2002) A second...

Yellow Bird: Indian Health Service has failed us (May 10, 2005)

"The Indian Health Service has had the responsibility for healing our ailments. In many cases, they have failed miserably. People have died because of misdiagnoses and poor treatment. IHS is chronically underfunded and poorly staffed. I say this because I...

Abramoff refused to appear at hearing on high fees (May 10, 2005)

Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff's refusal to testify before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in September 2004 wasn't the first time he avoided questions about his high fees. In October 2001, he refused to appear before the Senate of the Northern...

Debate continues over blocked judicial nominees (May 10, 2005)

President Bush called on the Senate to vote on two of his controversial judicial nominees on Monday as Democrats and Republicans resumed their battle after returning from a week-long recess. Bush singled out Priscilla Owen, a California Supreme Court justice,...