Settlement act proves helpful for Catawba Nation (December 14, 2005)

A judge in South Carolina upheld the governmental gaming rights of the Catawba Nation on Tuesday, the latest in a series of court cases dealing with special acts of Congress that give states control over certain tribal matters. Unlike the...

Native corporation may run school food services (December 14, 2005)

An Alaska Native corporation has been contacted about running the food services for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. No contracts have been signed by the NANA Corporation is aggressively preparing for the job. The firm is already advertising for a...

Lakota Nation Invitational kicks off in Rapid City (December 14, 2005)

The 29th annual Lakota Nation Invitational kicks off today in Rapid City, South Dakota. The invitational, which started out on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1977, have grown into a major celebration of Lakota culture, education, art and athletics. Thousands...

Southern Ute Tribe holds final election after shakeup (December 14, 2005)

The Southern Ute Tribe of Colorado held a run-off election on Monday, the fourth, and final, election since experiencing a leadership shakeup just a year ago. Elected as chairman was Clement J. Frost by just two votes John B....

First federal court trial held on Navajo Nation (December 14, 2005)

The first-ever federal court trial on the Navajo Nation started on Tuesday in Shiprock, New Mexico. The case, involving a beating on the Navajo Nation, is not linked to Shiprock but court officials wanted to hold it on the reservation...

Soccer brings Indian, non-Indian kids together (December 14, 2005)

The game of soccer is providing a bridge between a school on the Gila River Reservation and a public school in Chandler, Arizona. The soccer coach and soccer team at Chandler High School held a clinic on Monday for students...

Editorial: Review of tribal fraud claims welcome (December 14, 2005)

"News that the federal Department of the Interior's Office of the Inspector General is investigating allegations of fraud involving the local Amah Mutsun tribe is encouraging. If that investigation delays the application for federal recognition of sovereignty submitted by one...

Tule River Tribe mourning loss of longtime leader (December 14, 2005)

The Tule River Tribe of California is mourning the loss of Philip Daryl Hunter, a former chairman, vice chairman and current council member who died in a car accident this past Sunday, December 11. Hunter died when his pickup...

Chippewa Cree Tribe hands out holiday baskets, toys (December 14, 2005)

The Chippewa Cree Tribe of Montana kicked off the Christmas season on Tuesday with an annual dinner and toy giveaway at the senior citizens center on the Rocky Boy's Reservation. The holiday spirit will continue next week when the tribe...

Saginaw Chippewa Tribe sends gifts to Pine Ridge (December 14, 2005)

The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan is making Christmas wishes come true for children on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The tribe's Seniors Program is sending a truckload of packages to 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds served by the...

Oldest known Mayan tomb, mural unearthed (December 14, 2005)

Archaeologists announced the excavation of what they say is the oldest known burial site and mural of the Mayan civilization. The burial site, described as a tomb for a Mayan leader, and the mural date to 150 B.C. The...

Indian company in Colombia creates coca soda (December 14, 2005)

An Indian-owned company on Colombia has created its own brand of coca soda as an alternative to Coca-Cola. Coca Sek, which means "coca of the sun" in the Nasa language, is a carbonated drink made from the coca leaf...

Ute Tribe increases reward in search for man (December 14, 2005)

The Ute Tribe of Utah has increased to $6,000 the reward for information leading to Charles Reed Chapoose being found. Chapoose was last seen on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation on November 25. Extensive ground and air searches haven't...

Ron Allen to donate part of award to Embassy (December 14, 2005)

Ron Allen, the chairman of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe of Washington and the treasurer of the National Congress of American Indians, plans to share his Buffett Award with the Embassy of Tribal Nations. Allen received $25,000 from the Ecotrust...

Navajo Santa spreads Christmas joy in Utah (December 14, 2005)

Navajo Santa and his helpers made their 16th visit to a Navajo community in Utah earlier this month. Navajo Nation Council delegates and their families spent the year collecting donations and preparing for the celebration in Bluff, Utah. They...

Tribes in Arizona, Idaho make Christmas donations (December 14, 2005)

The holiday season is here and tribes are reaching into their pocks to make donations. In Arizona, the Gila River Indian Community is donating $275,000 to the West Valley Child Crisis Center. The money, to be presented on Friday,...

Dorgan returns money to avoid being tied to Abramoff (December 14, 2005)

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota), the vice chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, returned $67,000 in donations from former tribal clients of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Dorgan said he did nothing wrong by accepting money from the tribes. But...

Burns already spent donations from Abramoff (December 14, 2005)

Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Montana) won't return about $150,000 in donations from former tribal clients of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. ‘‘There’s nothing to return, the money has been spent,’’ a spokesperson told the Associated Press. Burns is the chairman of...