Indian man with long hair wins release from prison (May 27, 2004)

A California Indian man who refused to cut his waist-length hair while in prison was ordered released on Wednesday. Billy Soza Warsoldier, 55, said state corrections officials punished him for refusing to obey a policy that restricts hair length on...

Editorial: What about new jails for Indian Country? (May 27, 2004)

"In the shadow of abuses at the infamous Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, it's disheartening to see a national report on abysmal conditions at jails and prisons in Indian Country, including in Montana. It would be unfair to compare the...

Iraqi television crew to study Native Americans (May 27, 2004)

A television crew from Iraq is coming to the United States to include Native American view in a documentary about sovereignty. $p The crew plans to meet with tribal leaders in New Mexico, said Indian Affairs Secretary Bennie Shendo Jr....

Indian Affairs head promises money will be spent (May 27, 2004)

The New Mexico Legislature's Indian Affairs Committee held a hearing on Wednesday to discuss the Department of Indian Affairs. $p Benny Shendo Jr., the state's new Indian Affairs Secretary, said he is working to ensure money allocated for tribal projects...

Sovereignty, diversity stressed at FCC media hearing (May 27, 2004)

The Federal Communications Commission held a hearing on media localism in Rapid City, South Dakota, on Wednesday night. $p FCC officials heard from several tribal and Indian representatives, The Rapid City Journal reported. Harvey White Woman of the Oglala Sioux...

Column: Death of Seminole leader a loss to all (May 27, 2004)

"Florida has lost a valued citizen. Billy Larry Cypress, 61, died earlier this month in a South Florida hospital. Cypress was founder and executive director of the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Tribal leader, educator, soldier, scholar,...

Company suspends projects affecting sacred sites (May 27, 2004)

A company whose work tribes and environmentalists say will destroy sacred sites is suspending all major work on two geothermal plants at Medicine Lake in northern California. $p Calpine Corporation will not do any drilling until 2005, although some exploratory...

Makah Nation tells owner of troubled ferry to leave (May 27, 2004)

The Makah Nation of Washington has asked the owner of a ferry with a troubled past to leave tribal waters. $P Chairman Ben Johnson said the owner of Kalakala promised to create jobs for tribal members. But that hasn't happened,...

Makah whale hunt opponents charged with terrorism (May 27, 2004)

Animals-rights activist who tried to stop the Makah Nation from whale hunting were indicted on eco-terrorism charges for the actions in an unrelated case. $p Joshua Harper, Jacob Conroy and five others are accused of threatening a product testing company...

Leech Lake Tribe responds: 'We Are Not Lost' (May 27, 2004)

The Leech Lake Ojibwe Tribe of Minnesota held a forum this week to respond to The Minneapolis Star Tribune's series on the "lost youth" of the reservation. $p The "We Are Not Lost" forum drew 200 people over two days,...

Panel asked to sanction lawyer for ratting on tribe (May 27, 2004)

An investigator for disciplinary counsel is asking the Montana Commission on Practice to sanction former Blackfeet Nation lawyer Joe McKay for revealing confidential information about his client. $p McKay told The Great Falls Tribune that the tribe was violating federal...

All Native high school on track to open next year (May 27, 2004)

First Nations leaders in British Columbia plan to open an all Native high school by September 2005. $p The school will place an emphasis on Native culture in hopes of improving graduation rates of Native students. A similar school, the...

Northern Arapaho Tribe to continue child services (May 27, 2004)

The Northern Arapaho Tribe of Wyoming will continue to provide child protection services on the reservation without accepting state funding. $p The tribe and the state were negotiating a new contract for the services. But tribal leaders objected to a...

Inuits in Canada vote on $156M land claim settlement (May 27, 2004)

Turnout was reportedly strong among Inuits in Newfoundland and Labrador who were asked to vote on a land claim settlement with the government. $P The deal would turn over 15,000 square kilometers of land and 50,000 square kilometres of ocean....

Fort Peck tribal offices closed in internal dispute (May 27, 2004)

The offices of the Fort Peck Tribes of Montana were locked down on Wednesday and about 150 tribal and federal employees were sent home as part of an escalating internal dispute. $P The trouble started on Monday when the tribal...

BIA asked to delay land-into-trust for Cowlitz Tribe (May 27, 2004)

Officials in Clark County, Washington say they need more time to comment on the Cowlitz Tribe's plan to have 152 acres placed into trust. $p The tribe, which gained federal recognition in 2000, is seeking land for an initial reservation....

Request to place man in tribal isolation rejected (May 27, 2004)

A federal judge in Montana rejected the Northern Cheyenne Tribe's request to have a tribal member placed in isolation for selling marijuana to minors. $P Family wanted Gaylon Lame Woman turned over to the tribe's court. Tribal officials said he...

FCC hears from South Dakota tribes on telecom (May 27, 2004)

The Federal Communications Commission is holding a two-day workshop in South Dakota to discuss telecommunications issues in Indian Country. $p Tribal representatives said their reservations are underserved by telephone and wireless companies. "I always hear that commercial, 'Can you hear...

White House tells agencies to make budget cuts (May 27, 2004)

The White House Office of Management and Budget has told federal agencies to plan for a $2.3 billion in budget cuts, The Washington Post reports. $p Most of the cuts affect domestic programs and were outlined in a computer printout...