Scalia's ruling in Native religious case debated (October 20, 2006)

In a rare debate in the nation's capitol, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia explained why he ruled against the religious rights of Native Americans. Scalia wrote the majority opinion in Employment Division v. Smith, a case decided in 1990....

New Mexico voting machines speak in Navajo (October 20, 2006)

Navajo voters in New Mexico will be able to hear the ballot in the Navajo language on election day. The state has programmed some of the voting machines to speak Navajo. Zane James, the Native American election coordinator with the...

Cheyenne-Arapaho official accused of check fraud (October 20, 2006)

A legislator for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma faces five counts of cashing hot checks. Mike Martin allegedly cashed five checks, totaling $2,000, at the tribe's Lucky Star Casino. He pleaded not guilty in tribal court. Martin is...

Man admits to selling meth at Northern Cheyenne (October 20, 2006)

A man pleaded guilty to five counts of distributing methamphetamine on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana. Horace Hubert Small Jr. was charged after he sold meth five times to a confidential informant. He faces a maximum penalty of 20...

California tribes pour money into GOP campaigns (October 20, 2006)

A new political committee formed by six California tribes has spent its money on Republican candidates, The Palm Springs Desert Sun reports. Team 2006 was formed by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians,...

Another Seattle paper backs Nez Perce woman (October 20, 2006)

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer endorsed Claudia Kauffman, a member of the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho, for Washington State Senate. The paper says Kauffman is a better fit for the 47th District than Republican Mike Riley. Her votes would "be...

Anti-Indian groups back non-Indian over Red Lake (October 20, 2006)

Three anti-Indian groups are supporting and raising funds for a non-Indian man who was convicted of trespassing on the Red Lake Nation in Minnesota. Proper Economic Resource Management, Citizens Equal Rights Alliance, and the Mille Lacs Equal Rights Foundation are...

Rez Biz Magazine celebrates first anniversary (October 20, 2006)

Rez Biz Magazine, a publication aimed at Native entrepreneurs, is celebrating its first anniversary. Joe, a member of the Navajo Nation, mostly focuses on tribal business issues affecting New Mexico and Arizona. He wants to expand the magazine to...

Withcraft an issue in firing of Navajo employee (October 20, 2006)

A hearing into the termination of a Navajo Nation employee raised a sensitive and controversial subject in Navajo culture. Evangaline Logg was fired in 2004 after she took a few months off for medical leave. Her supervisor William Nez later...

Michigan tribes explore ways to diversify economy (October 20, 2006)

Michigan tribes met on Tuesday to discuss ways to expand and diversify their economies. Several tribes are engaged in gaming. "The casino is nice, but it's just not sustainable long term," said Steve Parsons of the Little River Band of...

Euchee man dies after shooting at party in Oklahoma (October 20, 2006)

A 20-year-old Euchee man died after being shot at a party in Oklahoma. Dakota Cloud died at a Tulsa hospital after losing massive amounts of blood. Also shot were his sister, Diane Cloud, 19, and friend Mike Solis, 19. The...

Review: Adam Beach delivers 'heartreak' in Flags (October 20, 2006)

"It seems hard to believe there is anything left to say about World War II that has not already been stated and restated, chewed, digested and spat out for your consideration and that of the Oscar voters. And yet...

Torres Martinez Reservation dump on Superfund list (October 20, 2006)

An illegal dump on the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Reservation in California has been put on the Superfund list of toxic sites. The Environmental Protection Agency told dump owner George Auclair Jr., a tribal member, to start developing a...

'Lost' Cherokee group seeks federal recognition (October 20, 2006)

A group called the Lost Cherokee of Arkansas and Missouri is seeking federal recognition as an Indian tribe. The group says its members descend from Cherokees who refused to be removed to Oklahoma. The Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma doesn't consider...

Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe near deal for golf course (October 20, 2006)

The Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe of Washington is near a deal to buy a golf course. The purchase of the Dungeness Golf Course is expected to be completed by November. It's part of the tribe's effort to build a destination resort....

Review: 'Flags' with Adam Beach one of best movies (October 20, 2006)

"The flag raising on Iwo Jima was a real event that became a pseudo-event, the engine to a huge marketing machine with goals far more ambitious than the original participants could have imagined. And that process, exactly and resonantly,...

Secret Service ordered to produce Cheney logs (October 20, 2006)

A federal judge ordered the Secret Service to produce logs of people who visited Vice President Dick Cheney. The Washington Post asked for the records two years ago. The Bush administration refused to release the information, calling it a "fishing...

Editorial: Send Rep. Pombo back to private life (October 20, 2006)

"During his 14 years in the House of Representatives, Richard Pombo has represented the 11th Congressional District, which stretches from San Joaquin County to Santa Clara County. Along the way he has amassed a dubious list of financial supporters --...

Judge agrees to put Abramoff in Maryland prison (October 20, 2006)

Jack Abramoff isn't in jail yet but when he is sentenced, he will be imprisoned at a medium security facility in Cumberland, Maryland, TPM Muckracker reports. "Mr. Abramoff’s incarceration there will facilitate the government’s access to him and, therefore, the...