Federal courts try to decide who is legally Indian (August 24, 2005)

When the U.S. Supreme Court in 1990 ruled that tribal governments lack the inherent authority to prosecute members of other tribes, Congress quickly reacted by passing the "Duro fix." Named after the Duro v. Reina case, the measure "hereby recognized...

Lawsuit filed over store's failure to hire Hopis (August 24, 2005)

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit on Monday accusing the Bashas' supermarket chain of discrimination by failing to hire two Hopis at a store on the Navajo Nation. The supermarket is located in Tuba City, which...

Alaska Native corporation reports record profits (August 24, 2005)

Arctic Slope Regional Corp., an Alaska Native regional corporation, reported record profits for the first six months of 2005. ASRC reported $59 million in profit, the most money the corporation has made in six months. revenues of $757 million. ASRC...

UFO spotted, may have landed, on Navajo Nation (August 24, 2005)

An unidentified flying object was seen over the skies on the Navajo Nation last week and may have landed near the small community of Standing Rock, New Mexico, The Gallup Independent reports. Lyle Jeff, a 17-year-old student, took pictures...

North Dakota tribe presses IHS for long overdue clinic (August 24, 2005)

The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation of North Dakota pressed Indian Health Service Director Dr. Charles Grim to build the health facility the tribe was promised 05 years ago. The federal government destroyed the tribe's hospital in Elbowoods with the...

Heffelfinger praises actions in Red Lake shooting (August 24, 2005)

U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger said staff and teachers at the Red Lake High School reacted admirably during the March 21, 2005, fatal shootings on the Red Lake Reservation in Minnesota. Heffelfinger said security guard Derrick Brun, a tribal member who...

City proposes land settlement with Muckleshoot Tribe (August 24, 2005)

The Tacoma City Council is proposing to transfer more than 100 acres to the Muckleshoot Tribe in order to settle a water rights dispute. The city would transfer 55 acres worth about $1 million and another parcel of 46 acres...

Connecticut governor denies improper lobbying (August 24, 2005)

Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R) denies she broke a court order that bars lobbying the Interior Department on the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation's bid for federal recognition. Rell admits she spoke with Interior Secretary Gale Norton about the recognition process...

Report: Americans are getting fatter every year (August 24, 2005)

Nearly a quarter of all Americans are obese, according to a report from the Trust for America's Health. The national obesity rate was 24.5 percent, the report said, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mississippi tipped...

Three people injured in Blackfeet Reservation stabbing (August 24, 2005)

Three people were injured during a stabbing incident on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. Shawn Alan McCarter, 26, is charged with assault with a weapon and criminal endangerment, both felonies. He allegedly stabbed three people in the early morning hours...

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe to address water crisis (August 24, 2005)

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota will use $14.6 million in federal and state monies to avert a water crisis affecting 14,000 people. The reservation's sole water delivery system is threatened by drought and the buildup of silt...

Cobell to update account holders on lawsuit (August 24, 2005)

Elouise Cobell, the lead plaintiff in the Cobell v. Norton lawsuit, will be giving Indian Country an update on the latest developments in the landmark trust fund case. Cobell plans to visit reservations in Idaho, Arizona and New Mexico to...

Appeals court opens Means to tribal prosecution (August 24, 2005)

American Indian activist and actor Russell Means can be prosecuted by the Navajo Nation for a crime he allegedly committed on the Navajo Reservation, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday. Means, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of...

NCAI president worried about shift in NCAA stance (August 24, 2005)

National Congress of American Indians President Tex Hall said he is worried that the NCAA may be backing away from its policy on Indian mascots. Hall told USA Today in an e-mail that NCAI wants all Indian mascots removed....

DNA links 10,000-year-old man to tribal descendants (August 24, 2005)

DNA tests on a 10,300-year-old man discovered in Alaska links him to 47 tribal descendants in North and South America, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Paleontologist Timothy Heaton extracted DNA from "On Your Knees Cave Man" and compared it to...

NCAA exempts FSU 'Seminoles' from mascot policy (August 24, 2005)

Florida State University won an exemption from the NCAA's policy on Indian mascots on Tuesday. The NCAA said the school can use its "Seminoles" mascot in post-season tournaments because the Seminole Tribe of Florida supports it. The Seminole Nation...

Yakama Nation finds few huckleberries to pick (August 24, 2005)

Members of the Yakama Nation of Washington say commercial pickers are taking all of the huckleberry harvest. The tribe has a treaty right to harvest the berries. But commercial pickers have been ignoring the start of the harvest date set...