Tribes seek better approach to trust reform initiative (March 3, 2006)

The National Congress of American Indians is asking the Bush administration to change its approach to a proposed set of trust reform regulations, citing a lack of focus and a failure to publicize the initiative. At the NCAI winter session...

Gover to mediate Osage Nation tobacco dispute (March 3, 2006)

Former Bureau of Indian Affairs assistant secretary Kevin Gover will mediate the tobacco tax dispute between the Osage Nation and the state of Oklahoma. Gover was chosen by the Osage Nation as its mediator. The state chose retired federal judge...

San Manuel Chair: Attorney no expert on sovereignty (March 3, 2006)

"Sacramento Attorney Howard Dickstein's opinion page piece in the Feb. 17 edition of Capitol Weekly ("Tribal sovereignty: A dynamic concept upheld by the courts for generations") completely misrepresents the high regard the vast majority of American Indian tribes have for...

Editorial: Increasing Indian home ownership (March 3, 2006)

"Home ownership is a prominent component of the American Dream. For too many Indian families for too long, however, the idea of owning a home is little more than a dream. Organizers of a new pilot project in Great Falls...

Gorton blocked Reagan's cut to urban Indian health (March 3, 2006)

President Bush's proposal to eliminate the 33 million urban Indian health program isn't the first time the program has been on the chopping block. In 1983, then-president Ronald Reagan sought to get rid of the program. But former Sen. Slade...

Small crowd at Oneida Nation land-into-trust meeting (March 3, 2006)

Only about 125 people turned out for a public meeting on the Oneida Nation's land-into-trust application, The Syracuse Post-Standard reported. Police were expected a large crowd after two prior hearings drew more than 1,000 each. But this time around, tribal...

Mother and daughter accused of abusing baby boy (March 3, 2006)

A 49-year-old woman and her 22-year-old daughter in Billings, Montana, have been charged with severely abusing an 18-month-old boy. Mary Rose Plainbull and daughter Stephanie Jamie Plainbull pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of aggravated assault by accountability....

Abramoff not slowing down Burns, DeLay or Ney (March 3, 2006)

The Jack Abramoff scandal has not slowed down fundraising efforts by lawmakers linked to the disgraced lobbyist, Bloomberg News reports. Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio), who is said to be the focus of a Department of Justice corruption probe, took in...

Honor the Earth sponsors traveling art exhibit (March 3, 2006)

Honor the Earth, the environmental advocacy organization founded by Winona LaDuke, is sponsoring a traveling art exhibit that explores Native environmental themes. "Impacted Nations" is a collection of more than 50 paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture from more than...

New Mexico family turns bread into a business (March 3, 2006)

A Pueblo family in New Mexico has turned their love for bread into a business. Karen Chalan started making bread at her home in Cochiti Pueblo when she was a young girl. Now she sells fry bread and Pueblo oven...

Father and young son killed in fire on First Nation (March 3, 2006)

A 31-year-old man and his one-year-old son died when their mobile home on the Samson Cree Nation in Albert was destroyed by fire. A woman noticed smoke coming from the home and was able to rescue two young children. When...

Investigation of Native teen safe house sought (March 3, 2006)

The opposition Saskatchewan Party says the province should investigated alleged problems at a Native teen safe house in Regina. The party says the provincial auditor and the children's advocate should look into claims that safety rules weren't followed. A former...

Hopi Tribe works with ASU on wind power study (March 3, 2006)

The Hopi Tribe is working with Arizona State University on a wind power study. The tribe is considering wind as a way to provide power to tribal communities. One area of initial study will focus on land where a new...

New Jersey group hires law firm to press land claim (March 3, 2006)

The Unalachtigo Band of the Nanticoke-Lenni Lenape Nation of New Jersey, an unrecognized group, has hired a law firm to fight its land claim in federal law. The Unalachtigo Band is claiming ownership of the 3,000-acre Brotherton Reservation. The lawsuit...

Tribal gas tax bill killed by lawmakers in Idaho (March 3, 2006)

A bill to impose the state of Idaho's gas tax on tribes was defeated by Idaho lawmakers on Thursday. The Idaho House Transportation Committee voted 7-7 on the bill, meaning it will not advance. All of the committee members...

Makah Nation whaling study up for more public comment (March 3, 2006)

The National Marine Fisheries Service has reopened the comment period on the Makah Nation's application for a waiver to exercise its treaty right to hunt whales. The tribe is applying for a waiver under the Marine Mammals Protection Act. But...

Rep. Doolittle thought Abramoff did a great job for tribes (March 3, 2006)

Rep. John Doolittle (R-California) thought Jack Abramoff was a "very effective lobbyist" for tribes until he learned details of the confessed felon's scam, according to an interview with The Roseville Press-Tribune. Doolittle said Michael Scanlon, a public relations consultant...

Water users fighting tribes find a friend at Interior (March 3, 2006)

Water users in California who are fighting tribal treaty rights have a close ally at the Interior Department in a top Bush administration appointee who used to work for them. For 10 years, Jason Peltier was head of the...

Family and kid friendly exhibition at NMAI (March 3, 2006)

The National Museum of the American Indian's new exhibition on Pacific Northwest cultures is family and kid friendly, The Washington Post reports. "Listening to Our Ancestors" features more than 400 objects from tribes in Alaska, British Columbia or Washington....