Experts debate legality of revenue-sharing compacts (April 18, 2005)

Don't expect the battle over revenue-sharing in gaming compacts to end anytime soon, two former Bureau of Indian Affairs officials said on Friday. Kevin Gover, the former assistant secretary during the last three years of the Clinton administration, said more...

Former Congressman J.C. Watts to lobby for UKB (April 18, 2005)

Former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts, who was the only African-American Republican in Congress, will lobby on behalf of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees. Watts will represent the tribe on economic development issues -- but that doesn't include gaming. "That's...

Navajo Nation Council to take up same-sex marriage (April 18, 2005)

The Navajo Nation Council will take up a proposed ban on same-sex marriage at its spring session. Council delegate Larry Anderson Sr., the sponsor of the resolution, says same-sex marriages are not part of Navajo culture. He wants to amend...

United Native America wants Devils Tower renamed (April 18, 2005)

A national Indian advocacy group is launching a campaign to change the name of Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming. United Native America founder Mike Graham, a Cherokee, says the current name is unsuitable. He wants it changed to Bear...

Hopi veterans upset Navajo Nation getting focus (April 18, 2005)

Veterans of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona are upset that they are being left out of the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" television program. The show is building a new home for the family of Lori Piestewa, the Hopi woman who...

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe sees big development (April 18, 2005)

The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe of Washington is foreseeing some major development in its future. The tribe has already broke ground on a $2.8 million expansion of its Indian Health Service clinic. The project, financed by the tribe and federal...

South Dakota tribe combats suicide among its youth (April 18, 2005)

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota saw 17 of its youth commit suicide in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, at least seven young people killed themselves. The high rate has led to efforts to reach out to youth...

Theft of artifacts feared as water levels drop (April 18, 2005)

Tribal and federal officials are worried about the theft of artifacts along the Missouri River now that water levels are dropping, exposing burial sites and villages. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for monitoring areas on Lake Oahe....

Norton blocking information technology report (April 18, 2005)

Interior Secretary Gale Norton is blocking the release of an internal report that details vulnerabilities to computer systems housing Indian trust data. In an April 8 filing, [PDF] Norton's lawyers disclosed that the Inspector General issued a report citing the...

Fire forces evacuation on Wyoming reservation (April 18, 2005)

Upwards of 600 people have been evacuated from a community on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming after a fire broke out on Sunday. The fire burned the former Bureau of Indian Affairs headquarters to the ground as well as...

Arizona tribe lures businesses to reservation (April 18, 2005)

Business are slowly moving to the Salt River Reservation in Arizona in search of prime real estate and economic opportunities in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. In recent years, a shopping center, a guitar factory and a national ice cream chain have...

Time: FBI to depose ex-associate of Abramoff's (April 18, 2005)

A former associate of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff is going to be deposed by the FBI this week, Time Magazine reports. The FBI is investigating Abramoff and Abramoff's partner Michael Scanlon, two Washington insiders who are accused of bilking tribes...

Foe of Texas tribes denies knowing Abramoff (April 18, 2005)

Freshman Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) was a key player in efforts to shut down two tribal casinos in Texas but he denies knowing disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff was also involved. As attorney general of Texas, John Cornyn filed suits against...

Sen. Burns: Support for Montana tribes is known (April 18, 2005)

"Let's get that record straight right now. In just the past two fiscal years, I have secured over $25 million in direct funding for the tribes, and tribally related projects in Montana. That doesn't include the increased funding to BIA...

Editorial: Burns should have said no to Abramoff (April 18, 2005)

"A three-term U.S. senator can't avoid responsibility by saying 'I didn't know.' Congressional staff shouldn't be taking vacations paid for by lobbyists or other interest groups. Let the staff pay for their own vacations - like Montanans do. The 'demonstration...

Ties to Abramoff an issue for Ralph Reed campaign (April 18, 2005)

Christian Republican activist Ralph Reed's ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff are becoming an issue in his campaign for lieutenant governor of Georgia, where there are no federally recognized tribes. Reed has been a close associate of Reed's since the...

Opinion: Lobbying scandal cloaked in religion (April 18, 2005)

'A candal is like any other melodrama: It can't be a crowd pleaser unless the audience can follow the plot. That's why Monica Lewinsky trumped Whitewater, and that's why of all the story lines ensnaring Tom DeLay, the one with...

Mark Trahant: Tax system unfair and complicated (April 18, 2005)

"Our current tax system has two major flaws: It's too complicated and it doesn't seem fair. Several members of Congress want to shift from an income tax to a consumption tax, such as a sales tax. This would end the...

Yellow Bird: Indian gaming profits for the few (April 18, 2005)

"There are positive results from tribal gambling funds. However, most of the benefits and profits go to a few individuals and tribes who have made billions. That's why we need to remember the purpose of the National Indian Gaming Act:...