Men who stole petroglyphs escape punishment (March 22, 2006)

Two non-Indian men who stole 1,000-year-old petroglyphs saw their theft convictions thrown out by a federal appeals court on Tuesday after the government failed to prove the artifacts were of any value. Using a winch on a truck, John Ligon...

Two Creek Freedmen apply for citizenship after ruling (March 22, 2006)

Two Creek Freedmen applied for citizenship in the Muscogee Nation after a tribal judge ruled their rights were violated. Fred Johnson and Ron Graham trace their ancestry to the Dawes Roll. They are descendants of Freedmen, the former African slaves...

Denver museum holds annual spring buffalo feast (March 22, 2006)

The 11th Annual Spring Buffalo Feast and Honoring Ceremony was held at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on Tuesday. The event drew hundreds of participants representing dozens of tribes. Awards were given to recognize elders, educators, students...

Southern Ute Tribe builds off-reservation community (March 22, 2006)

The Southern Ute Tribe of Colorado is building the largest residential and commercial community in Durango. The 681-acre Three Springs community is located off the reservation. The land has been annexed by the city of Durango for housing, retail...

Canada outlines Native water improvement plan (March 22, 2006)

The Canadian government announced a five-point plan on Tuesday aimed at improving water quality on reserves across the nation. Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice said 21 Native communities will receive top priority because their water is unsafe or undrinkable. He...

Navajo woman makes mark at council speaker's office (March 22, 2006)

Karen Francis jumped at the chance to work for Navajo Nation Council Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan even though she hadn't worked in tribal politics before. Francis, a May 2003 graduate in journalism and philosophy at the University of New...

Paper examines Indian race relations, civil rights (March 22, 2006)

The Farmington Daily Times is running a five-part series examining Indian race relations and civil rights issues in Farmington, New Mexico. The series focuses on the findings of a recent U.S. Commission on Civil Rights report. "The Farmington Report: Civil...

Inuits in Arctic feel effects of climate change (March 22, 2006)

Inuits in Alaska, Canada and Russia are documenting the effects of climate change on their way of life. The winters are getting warmer, the ice caps are melting and the night sky appears brighter. Inuits say they have never seen...

Indian students accuse school of undermining culture (March 22, 2006)

Students at the Red Cloud Indian School on the Pine Ridge Reservation say teachers and administrators are degrading Lakota culture and religion. The sophomore class led a protest to call attention to the firings of two Lakota culture teachers. The...

Oklahoma tribes exempt from state workers comp law (March 22, 2006)

Oklahoma tribes are exempt from the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Act, the state attorney general said in an opinion released on Tuesday. The tribes don't have to provide insurance for injured workers, according to the opinion. But tribes can opt for...

Saginaw Chippewa Tribe asked to clarify land claim (March 22, 2006)

The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan is being asked to clarify its land claim lawsuit against the state. The tribe filed its complaint last year, arguing that the historic Isabella Reservation still exists. The tribe is citing an 1855 executive...

Pokanoket Tribe seeks state, federal recognition (March 22, 2006)

The Pokanoket Tribe of Rhode Island says it needs state and federal recognition in order to practice its culture and protect its heritage. Tribal members testified in favor of a bill to grant them recognition. They say they don't plan...

Soboba Band to begin work on golf course clubhouse (March 22, 2006)

The Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians will start construction in April on a new clubhouse at the tribe's recently revamped golf course. The tribe bought the Country Club at Soboba Springs in December 2004. Since then, the tribe has...

Editorial: Lobbying reform shell game in Washington (March 22, 2006)

"The political gods had to guffaw when Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania was designated by the Republicans to be their headlined champion in the current reform effort to rein in lobbying abuses. In truth, Mr. Santorum had long been the...

New Rumsey Band chairman makes culture a priority (March 22, 2006)

Revitalizing culture, language and heritage are the top priorities of Marshall McKay, the new chairman of the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians in California. McKay, 55, said he wants young people to connect with tribal culture. He said it's important...

Sen. Burns faces Republican primary challenge (March 22, 2006)

Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Montana), whose ties to Jack Abramoff have dogged his re-election campaign, is facing a Republican primary challenge. State Sen. Bob Keenan said yesterday he has filed to run against Burns. Keenan, who can't seek re-election in...

Poll shows Ralph Reed lost support after Abramoff (March 22, 2006)

Ralph Reed, the conservative Christian activist who is running for lieutenant governor of Georgia, leads his Republican opponent in a new poll but the number show he lost support among GOP voters in the wake of the Jack Abramoff...

Herseth focuses on education during reservation tour (March 22, 2006)

Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-South Dakota) is leading a tour of two reservations in South Dakota to focus on Indian education. Herseth will visit the Pine Ridge Reservation and the Rosebud Sioux Reservation this week. She is bringing Rep. George Miller...

Ecuador declares emergency to stop Indian protests (March 22, 2006)

Ecuador President Alfredo Palacio declared a state of emergency in four provinces in hopes of stopping Indian protests that have crippled parts of the country. The emergency declaration gives police greater powers to shut down the protests and arrest...