White House hit over delays in health care and Cobell (October 5, 2006)

A senior White House official sought to explain the Bush administration's stance on Indian health care and the Cobell settlement amid angry questions on Wednesday. Attendees of the National Congress of American Indians annual conference in Sacramento criticized the administration...

Lawsuit over Native corp herbicide spraying (October 5, 2006)

The state of Alaska is being sued for issuing a permit to an Alaska Native corporation that plans to spray herbicides on 2,000 acres of subsistence habitat. The Hydaburg Cooperative Association, the city of Hydaburg, the Central Council Tlingit and...

Harvard presents Honoring Nations awards at NCAI (October 5, 2006)

The Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development presented its Honoring Nations awards at the National Congress of American Indians annual conference in San Diego. Fourteen finalists presented their programs to a panel of judges on Tuesday. Seven were singled...

Woman sentenced for meth dealing at tribal housing (October 5, 2006)

A woman was sentenced to three years and one month in prison for dealing methamphetamine from tribal housing on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana. Theresa Littlebird, 54, pleaded guilty to selling meth from her residence at the tribal housing...

Delaware candidates debate recognition legislation (October 5, 2006)

Federal recognition was a big topic at a candidates' forum held by the Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma. The tribe was removed from the list of federally recognized entities last year. The Cherokee Nation sued to prevent the Delawares from being...

Former members protest Enterprise Rancheria (October 5, 2006)

Former members of the Enterprise Rancheria of California held a protest outside the tribal offices this past weekend. About 30 people participated. The tribe has removed 72 people from the rolls. Robert Edwards, one of the ousted members, says the...

Former Cheyenne-Arapaho chair charged with theft (October 5, 2006)

The former chairman of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma has been charged with theft of a luxury car. Bill Blind reportedly bought the 2002 Lincoln Town Car with tribal funds. He was still in possession of the vehicle...

Fire Thunder fails to make cut in unofficial count (October 5, 2006)

Cecilia Fire Thunder, the ousted president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, came in third in Tuesday's primary election, according to unofficial results. Fire Thunder hoped to regain her post after being impeached in June. She was ousted after speaking against...

Lakota candidate raises abortion issue (October 5, 2006)

Bruce Whalen, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, is making abortion an issue in his campaign for U.S. House. Whalen, a Republican, is running against Rep. Stephanie Herserth, a Democrat. He charges that she is out of touch with...

Jury finds five guilty in Pine Ridge trafficking case (October 5, 2006)

A federal jury found five people guilty of trafficking drugs to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Geraldine Blue Bird, Colin Spotted Elk, Marvella Richards, Flint Thomas Red Feather and Rusty Richards went on trial for conspiracy to distribute...

BIA boarding school evacuated after bomb threat (October 5, 2006)

A Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school on the Navajo Nation was placed on lockdown and evacuated after receiving a bomb threat on Monday. Students were sent home after nine notes were found at the Choosh'gai Boarding School. Law enforcement...

Red Lake community holds onto traditions (October 5, 2006)

A small, remote community on the Red Lake Reservation is holding onto Ojibwe language and culture in an ever-changing world. Located on the northern tip of the reservation, Ponemah is considered the most traditional. Ceremonies conducted in Ojibwe are the...

Column: Growing up in a traditional community (October 5, 2006)

"For Ponemah kids, the first day of school in Red Lake is the worst. After the first day I felt like I never wanted to go back. I was called names, harassed and threatened just because I was from Ponemah....

Man posing as police officer suspected of 10 rapes (October 5, 2006)

A man who is posing as a police officer is suspected of at least 10 rapes on the Fort Apache Reservation in Arizona. The attacks began in March. They occurred late at night on a trail between two housing projects....

Judge dismisses lawsuit over tribal preference (October 5, 2006)

A federal judge has dismissed the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's lawsuit that challenged the Navajo Nation's Navajo preference law. The EEOC sued Peabody Coal and the Navajo Nation. The agency contends Peabody discriminates against Native Americans who are not...

Yankton Sioux Tribe fights for emergency room (October 5, 2006)

The Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota is looking for ways to save its emergency room from being closed by the Indian Health Service. The tribe filed a lawsuit against IHS last week. A judge imposed a temporary restraining order...

American Indian College Fund runs ad campaign (October 5, 2006)

The American Indian College Fund is running a national advertising campaign to raise funds for tribal colleges. The "If I Stay on the Rez" campaign features five tribal college students. The ads have been appearing in several magazines, such...

Navajo Nation Head Start suspension lifted (October 5, 2006)

The federal Administration for Children and Families lifted its five-month suspension of the Navajo Nation's Head Start program. ACF cut federal funds to the tribe after a background check of employees found some with serious criminal histories. The tribe subsequently...

State, tribes argue over sovereign immunity (October 5, 2006)

The state of California and two tribes were in court on Wednesday to argue a critical sovereign immunity case. The state's Fair Political Practices Commission says it can sue two tribes for not complying with campaign finance laws. The Agua...