Makah Tribe sues after troubled ferry fails to leave (July 1, 2004)

The Makah Tribe of Washington has sued the owner of the ferry Kalakala for trespass and for damaging tribal property. The tribe gave free mooring to the troubled historic ferry, which is in need of repairs. But officials say owner...

Chairman of Alaska Native corporation replaced (July 1, 2004)

Oliver Leavitt has been replaced as chairman of Arctic Slope Regional Corp. amid dropping profits and shareholder complaints. Leavitt was at the end of his term but shareholders took his replacement as a sign that their complaints are being heard....

Mississippi Choctaws signing deals for high-tech jobs (July 1, 2004)

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is signing agreements with two companies to bring high-tech jobs to the reservation. One agreement is with AgustaWestland Inc., a helicopter manufacturer. The other is with AAI Corp., a defense and training systems design...

Scientists support First Nation plan for moving orca (July 1, 2004)

Scientists in Canada say the government should give the Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation a greater role in the future of an orca that tribal members believe is the spiritual embodiment of a late tribal chief. Tribal members want to lead the...

Controversies continue after Soo Tribe election (July 1, 2004)

Voters of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Michigan elected a new leader last week but disputes between chairman Bernard Bouschor and incoming chairman Aaron Payment continue. Immediately after losing the heated election, Bouschor fired seven top aides and then...

Agreement reached on bison range management (July 1, 2004)

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana will manage parts of the National Bison Range under an agreement reached with the Bush administration. The tribes have been seeking a greater role in the range, which is located entirely within...

Senate panel holds hearings on village erosion (July 1, 2004)

The Senate Appropriations Committee held two hearings this week to discuss Alaska Native villages affected by flooding and erosion. The hearings were held on Tuesday and Wednesday in Anchorage. On the first day, federal and state officials and scientists testified....

Pala Band's anti-landfill measure safe for now (July 1, 2004)

The Pala Band of Mission Indians will have to defend its voter initiative against a landfill at an upcoming meeting. The tribe collected enough signatures for the petition to be placed on the November ballot. But attorneys for the landfill...

Gila River Tribe plans to buy land in park for $8M (July 1, 2004)

The Gila River Indian Community of Arizona has been approved to buy 1,200 acres in a public park for $8 million. $p The land within the San Tan Mountain Regional Park is near the reservation. The tribe wants to keep...

Aboriginal leader's hate crimes case delayed again (July 1, 2004)

David Ahenakew, an Aboriginal leader from Canada, will not go to trial on hate crimes charges until November due to the withdrawal of his lawyer. $p Ahenakew, a former chief of the Assembly of First Nations, was charged after...

Blackfeet Nation voters elect three newcomers (July 1, 2004)

The results of Tuesday's election on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana are in. $p Four council seats were up for grabs. Voters elected three newcomers and retained longtime leader Earl Old Person. $p The newcomers are Patrick "Pat" Thomas, Betty...

Fireworks sales benefit Stillaguamish students (July 1, 2004)

Proceeds from the Stillaguamish Tribe's fireworks stand will be used to reward students. The tribe's Boom City sent 45 kids and parents to Disneyland in California last year. To qualify for the trip, students must do well in school and...

Towns try to join another recognition case (July 1, 2004)

Three Connecticut towns opposed to the federal recognition of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation are trying to join another tribe's case. $p The towns say they should be designated as an "interested party" in the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation's case if...

Wildlife park nearly out of Yavapai Reservation (July 1, 2004)

The Out of Africa Wildlife Park is nearly out of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Reservation in Arizona. $p The park has removed all but 14 large animals from its facility. The tribe has given the park until July 30 to...

Rancher kept major Indian sites hidden for decades (July 1, 2004)

A Utah rancher stumbled on a series of 1,000-year-old Indian villages on his family's land in the 1940s but kept them secret in order to protect what archaeologists are now calling a significant find. Rancher Waldo Wilcox said he knew...

AP skims over inaccuracies in Ione Band stories (July 1, 2004)

The Associated Press' latest article about alleged conflicts of interests of Bureau of Indian Affairs employees largely glosses over inaccuracies previously reported by the news service. $p The AP previously reported that a top BIA official in California was involved...

Probe clears BIA employees in tribal enrollment dispute (July 1, 2004)

An internal investigation into allegations that Bureau of Indian Affairs employees padded the rolls of a California tribe in order to bolster a controversial bid for a casino has uncovered no wrongdoing. The Ione Band of Miwok Indians was the...