Third court decision favors land-into-trust process (November 11, 2005)

For the third time this year, a federal court has upheld the legality of the land-into-trust process. On Thursday, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a challenge from the state of Utah. Officials argued that the Indian Reorganization Act...

Relations between tribe, towns said to be improving (November 11, 2005)

After years of political and legal battles, relations between the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and three towns are improving, The New London Day reports. The towns of Ledyard, North Stonington and Preston have fought the tribe on land, water, taxation,...

Northern Cheyenne veteran proud of WWII service (November 11, 2005)

Ray Brady, an 80-year-old member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana, is proud to have served in World War II. Brady was 17 when he volunteered to join the Army. He was sent to Europe, where he specialized...

Powwow on Crow Reservation to honor veterans (November 11, 2005)

A powwow will be held on the Crow Reservation in Montana to honor Native veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. The event starts today with a 5-mile run and 2-mile walk. Crow Chairman Carl Venne will lead...

Gathering celebrates Native veterans, Marines (November 11, 2005)

A Gathering of Warriors was held on Thursday to honor Native veterans and the 230th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. The Inter-Tribal Indian Club and Veterans' Upward Bound program at Montana State University-Billings sponsored the event. More than...

Menominee family's troubles known to officials (November 11, 2005)

Child welfare and public school officials knew of long-standing problems with the family of Sidney Mahkuk, an 11-year-old Menominee Nation girl who died of a cocaine overdose in Minneapolis. Since 1988, at least five investigations were conducted at Sidney's...

Blackfeet Nation seeks more hurricane workers (November 11, 2005)

The Blackfeet Nation of Montana is seeking 200 more workers to help in post-hurricane efforts in the Gulf Coast. The tribe has created a program to help applicants meet FEMA requirements for emergency work. The tribe has already sent more...

White Lady: Recognition irrelevant to identity (November 11, 2005)

"What's befallen the Eastern Pequots, however, is an entirely different situation. It's not about hooking their lineage to a star, Native or otherwise, for fun or for pride. I have plenty of problems with the whole sovereign nation set-up, which...

Washington tribes share concerns with Gregoire (November 11, 2005)

The 16th annual Centennial Accord meeting was held on Thursday on the Chehalis Reservation in Washington. Representatives from 27 of the 29 tribes in the state met with Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) to discuss their concerns. According to The Tacoma...

Mashantucket Tribe considers studio-arts complex (November 11, 2005)

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation of Connecticut is considering a partnership for a film studio and performing arts complex. The tribe would offer 495 acres of its land for the project with a group called North Stonington Studios LLP. The...

Abenaki Nation to fight recognition ruling (November 11, 2005)

The Abenaki Nation of Vermont hopes to convince the Bureau of Indian Affairs that it deserves federal recognition, Chief April Rushlow Merrill told The Burlington Free Press. The tribe failed to meet four out of seven recognition criteria, the BIA...

Utah court blocks state jurisdiction on hunting (November 11, 2005)

The state of Utah doesn't have jurisdiction over hunting crimes in Indian Country, the Utah Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday. In a case involving two mixed-blood Utes who were accused of violating state hunting laws, the court said the...

Elders to be honored at gathering in California (November 11, 2005)

The 24th annual Northwest Intertribal Gathering and Elders Dinner will be held in Eureka, California, on Saturday, November 12. The Northern California Indian Development Council sponsors the event. Andre Cramblit, the operations director, said more than 2,500 people attended last...

Resolution urges talks with tribes on 'Sioux' name (November 11, 2005)

The "Fighting Sioux" logo of the University of North Dakota. ™ UND. The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education will consider a resolution that urges the University of North Dakota to talk with tribes over the school's "Fighting...

Budget amendment may allow sale of treaty lands (November 11, 2005)

Millions of acres of federal land, including treaty lands, would be put up for sale under an amendment to the budget, Indian Country Today reports. The properties at risk include Western Shoshone treaty lands in Nevada and Sioux Nation treaty...

Hualapai Tribe to challenge Grand Canyon plan (November 11, 2005)

The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona plans to challenge the Grand Canyon's new Colorado River Management Plan. Chairman Charlie Vaughn says it is unclear that the National Park Service has the authority to impose the plan on the tribe. The tribe...

Omaha Tribe's council gets first woman leader (November 11, 2005)

The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska has its first woman leader. Eleanor Baxter was chosen as the chairperson of the tribal council on Tuesday. She plans to make economic development and employment a priority and improve relations with the state and...

Harjo: 'Scooter' Libby scandal and Rosa Parks (November 11, 2005)

"In the Halloween season that Washington wags dubbed ''Nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue,'' Vice President Dick Cheney's top staffer was indicted for lying, President Bush's pick for the Supreme Court was shot down by friendly fire and the number of Americans...

Abramoff scandal should make everyone angry (November 11, 2005)

""The whacko’s get their information through the Christian right, Christian radio, mail, the internet and telephone trees. ... Simply put, we want to bring out the whacko’s to vote against something and make sure the rest of the public lets...

C-SPAN Moment: Putting the screws to Steve Griles (November 11, 2005)

"C-Span provides an unblinking 24-hour look at the momentous tedium on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., where lawmakers present arguments, build factions, take votes and otherwise swagger and bluff their way into history. My favorite C-Span moment so far...