Patricia Michaels outlasts most designers on Project Runway (March 28, 2013)

Week 9 look from Patricia Michaels. Photo from Project Runway website. With just six designers left in the competition, Patricia Michaels of Taos Pueblo has outlasted most of her colleagues on the latest season of Project Runway. Michaels, the first...

Judge won't dismiss Navajo Nation case over 'Navajo' items (March 28, 2013)

A federal judge is allowing the Navajo Nation to proceed with almost all of its claims against fashion retailer Urban Outfitters. The tribe asked the Urban Outfitters to stop labeling, selling and referring to items as "Navajo." The company changed...

Native youth depart on 45-day walk from Manitoba to Ottawa (March 28, 2013)

Native youth in Winnipeg, Manitoba, embark in 45-day walk. Photo from Youth For Lake on Facebook. Inspired by the Idle No More movement, a group of Native youth is walking more than 1,200 miles from Manitoba to Ottawa. The...

Former president of Alaska Native village charged with theft (March 28, 2013)

The former president of the Native Village of Tatitlek was arrested in Alaska on Wednesday on charges that she stole more than $200,000 from the tribe. Lori “Sue” Johnson, whose married name is Lori Clum, was ousted a president of...

Diane Benson: Anti-violence effort leaves out Alaska Natives (March 28, 2013)

Diane Benson, an Alaska Native survivor of sexual assault, says the state's Choose Respect campaign leaves out Native women: The Choose Respect anti-violence programs are great things for schools, but government needs to take tangible actions rather than just mirror...

Conference tackles crimes of violence against Indian women (March 28, 2013)

A two-day conference in Montana addressed domestic violence and sexual assault in Indian Country. The Montana Native Women’s Coalition organized the meeting to raise awareness of crimes against Indian women. “I want to have all the rights for the Native...

DOJ and NCAI file briefs in Montana Indian voting rights case (March 28, 2013)

The Department of Justice and the National Congress of American Indians submitted briefs in an Indian voting rights case in Montana. Members of the Crow Tribe, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and the Fort Belknap Indian Community sued the state in...

Chippewa Cree Tribe plans for special election for chairman (March 28, 2013)

The Chippewa Cree Tribe of Montana plans to hold a special election to fill the chairman's post. The tribal council voted on Monday to remove Ken Blatt St. Marks from office. He's disputing the charges but the tribe plans to...

Melissa Merrick: Rep. Cramer of North Dakota attacks women (March 28, 2013)

Melissa Merrick, a member of the Spirit Lake Nation, describes a troubling meeting with freshman Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota): After I spoke, Cramer began what turned out to be roughly 20 minutes verbal attacks directed at me and meant...

Tribal members see record bison hunting season in Montana (March 28, 2013)

Tribal members are enjoying a record bison hunting season in Montana, The Wall Street Journal reports. Some 249 bison have been killed during the winter 2012-2013 season. Of those, 212 were taken by tribal members. "It's been a pretty successful...

Opinion: Wisconsin tribes make power play on fishing rights (March 28, 2013)

Radio guy questions why Wisconsin tribes have increased fishing quotas under their treaties: Under existing law, the six bands of Chippewa in northern Wisconsin are allowed to declare how many walleyes they intend to spear during the annual spring harvest....

Village leader questions rival for marriage to Oneida woman (March 28, 2013)

Patricia Hoeft, Secretary of Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. Photo courtesy Oneida Nation. The leader of a village in Wisconsin known for its anti-tribal stances is telling residents not to vote for his rival because the candidate is married to...

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe signs agreement with Red Cross (March 28, 2013)

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is signing an agreement with the American Red Cross today. The memorandum of understanding will address how the entities will work together to address future disasters on the reservation. It's the first agreement of its...

Over 100 tribes in Alaska operating their own court systems (March 28, 2013)

Over 100 tribes are operating their own court systems, Lisa Jaeger of the Tanana Chiefs Conference said at a forum on Wednesday. Tribes are handling child welfare cases, domestic violence crimes and other matters, Jaeger said. Their court systems represent...

BSPR: Nez Perce Tribe and Yakama Nation work to help fish (March 28, 2013)

Boise State Public Radio reports on efforts by the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, the Nez Perce Tribe and the Yakama Nation to improve runs of fish in the Columbia River: Steelhead in the Columbia River Basin are threatened. Current...

ICT interview with Cecile Hansen, leader of Duwamish Tribe (March 28, 2013)

Indian Country Today interviews Cecile Hansen, chairwoman of the Duwamish Tribe of Washington: How did the petition for recognition begin? We were fighting for fishing rights and we naïvely believed that we were going to get recognized and get our...

Navajo Nation hosts farmers from Israel for unique meeting (March 28, 2013)

Two farmers from Israel are traveling to the Navajo Nation to take part in a unique conference. The Navajo and Israel Agricultural Gathering for the First Nations takes place next Tuesday and Wednesday in Shiprock, New Mexico. The free event...

Steve Russell: Tribal sovereignty and slime in modern politics (March 28, 2013)

Steve Russell on sovereignty and slime: The interplay between law and language is fascinating. “Blood quantum” started without the modern racist connotations in early English cases involving inheritance from a particular person rather than from a racially defined category of...

Native Sun News: Sen. Johnson announces retirement plans (March 28, 2013)

The following story was written and reported by Brandon Ecoffey, Native Sun News Staff Writer. All content © Native Sun News. Tim Johnson announces retirement By Brandon Ecoffey Native Sun News Staff writer VERMILLION—After 28 years of representing South Dakota...

Native Sun News: Tribes file major suit against South Dakota (March 28, 2013)

The following story was written and reported by Brandon Ecoffey, Native Sun News Staff Writer. All content © Native Sun News. OST Tribal President, Bryan Brewer and OST ICWA director Juanita Scherich announced the suit on March 21, in Rapid...