Tribes to fight snowmaking in sacred Ariz. peaks (February 3, 2004)

The Coconino National Forest in Arizona is proposing to allow artificial snowmaking in the sacred San Francisco Peaks in Arizona. Several tribes, including the Hopi and Navajo, oppose snowmaking. The Hopi Tribe considers it sacrilegious to bring treated wastewater into...

Bush seeks $3 billion for Indian Health Service (February 3, 2004)

The director of the Indian Health Service (IHS) on Monday said his agency's new $3 billion budget will help tribes and the federal government meet Indian Country's needs. Dr. Charles Grim, a Bush administration appointee, said IHS fared well within...

Daschle criticizes Bush on Indian health funds (February 3, 2004)

The following is a press release from Sen. Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota). Senator Tom Daschle today criticized President Bush's Fiscal Year 2005 budget proposal for drastically underfunding the Indian Health Service (IHS). Bush's budget proposal includes only $2.1 billion for...

Funding levels flat in new Interior budget (February 3, 2004)

Interior Secretary Gale Norton unveiled an $11 billion budget on Monday that provides a limited set of new funds for Indian Country programs. At a press conference in Washington, D.C., Norton said the fiscal year 2005 request enables the Department...

Yellow Bird: Lake outlet a tough sell for many (February 3, 2004)

"When I read Secretary of State Colin Powell's recent letter about the Devils Lake outlet, I was not convinced that the need for the outlet outweighed the concerns of Canada, the state of Minnesota, the activist group People to Save...

N.M. county agrees to loan up to $75M to tribe (February 3, 2004)

A New Mexico tribe with $88 million in debt has secured a loan from Sandoval County. Santa Ana Pueblo is trying to refinance debt on its hotel resort and golf courses. The tribe first sought help from the state but...

Some Indians feel invisible among Lewis and Clark (February 3, 2004)

Some Indians in Nebraska say they are concerned about events for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. Judi M. gaiashkibos, a Ponca tribal member who is executive director of the Nebraska Indian Affairs Commission, and Rudi Mitchell, a commissioner and Omaha...

Navajo language program first to meet standards (February 3, 2004)

The Farmington School District in New Mexico is the first district in the state and in the U.S. to have a Native language program to meet state standards. Students from kindergarten to grade 12 follow the Dine Bilingual Language Culture...

First Nations oppose use of health consent form (February 3, 2004)

First Nations leaders are hoping the Canadian government will stop asking Natives to sign a consent form that allows access to medical records. The deadline to sign the form is March 1. Canadian officials say it will protect against prescription...

Sask. authorities looking into death of Native man (February 3, 2004)

Authorities in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, are investigating the death of a 25-year-old Native man. The unidentified man was found in a snow bank near a university campus. Police say he had attended a round dance for Lawrence Wegner, a Native man...

Blackfeet Nation in dispute with former lawyer (February 3, 2004)

The Blackfeet Nation of Montana has barred its former attorney from practicing law on the reservation. Tribal leaders say Joe McKay violated the attorney-client privilege. He went public with allegations that the tribe misspent nearly $3 million in federal funds....

Faction of Calif. rancheria forms own tribe (February 3, 2004)

There's a new tribe in California -- the Indians of Enterprise No. 1. The group was formed by about 50 members who were disenrolled by the Estom Yumeka Maidu Tribe - Enterprise Rancheria. The new chairman, Robert Edwards, said lawyers...

Judge won't protect 130 from disenrollment (February 3, 2004)

A federal judge in California refused to stop the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians from removing 130 people from the tribal rolls. The group asked the court to issue a temporary restraining orders against the tribe's enrollment committee. But U.S....

Questions remain as Aquash murder trial starts (February 3, 2004)

The trial into the murder of American Indian Movement activist Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash begins in federal court in South Dakota today. Pictou-Aquash was found dead on the Pine Ridge Reservation in February 1976. Authorities had little to go on at...

Indian turnout for Ariz. primaries seen as low (February 3, 2004)

Officials in Arizona say they don't expect Native American voters to turn out in large numbers for the Democratic primary today. The elections director for the Navajo Nation said a "very optimistic" turnout would be 10 percent. Others said there...

Bush sends $2.4 trillion budget to Congress (February 3, 2004)

President Bush proposed a $2.4 trillion budget on Monday that was high on terrorism and military spending but low on domestic programs. According to The Washington Post, Bush is asking for a $31 billion increase from current levels. Of this...

Indian affairs panel to hold budget hearings (February 3, 2004)

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee is holding two hearings on President Bush's fiscal year 2005 budget request. The hearings will take place February 4 and February 11. Witness lists have not been posted on the committee's web site. Under the...

Senate committee to take up Bill Myers judgeship (February 3, 2004)

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a confirmation hearing on Wednesday for William G. Myers III to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) have come...

Dave Anderson finally sworn in as head of BIA (February 3, 2004)

"Famous" Dave Anderson was sworn in as the Department of Interior's assistant secretary for Indian affairs on Monday. A member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe of Wisconsin, Anderson spent his first day getting familiar with his surrounding....

Wes Clark campaign announces Indian Country support (February 3, 2004)

Prominent Indian leaders and several former members of the Clinton administration are among the supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark, his campaign announced on Monday. Peterson Zah, former president of the Navajo Nation; Vernon Masayesva, former chairman of the...

Navajo president attends Kerry rally in N.M. (February 3, 2004)

News from the Navajo Nation Office of the President. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., February 2 - Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley, Jr., took the opportunity today while on a visit with Democratic Presidential hopeful, Senator John Kerry at the University of New...