Tekakwitha conference gets underway in Tucson (July 20, 2005)

The 66th annual Tekakwitha Conference begins today in Tucson, Arizona. The event draws upwards of 1,000 Native Catholics from across the country. One of the attendees' main goals is to pray for the elevation of the Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, a...

Debate on Native Hawaiian bill delayed in Senate (July 20, 2005)

Indianz.Com Listening Lounge, House Hearing on Native Hawaiian Reorganization Act, July 19, 2005Note: All files in MP3 format. Intro - 12:37 - 2.16MB Panel I - 29:29 - 5.06MB | Q&A - 24:54 - 4.27MB Witness List A bill...

Mohegan Tribe prepares for upcoming election (July 20, 2005)

All nine seats on the Mohegan Tribe's council are up for grabs in an upcoming election. All but eight council members, including chairman Mark Brown, are seeking re-election. Issues facing the tribe include the expansion of the tribe's businesses and...

Alaska Native leader resigns state, corporate posts (July 20, 2005)

A prominent Alaska Native leader has resigned from his post as Alaska's commerce commissioner in hopes of about quelling controversy about his role at the Chugach Alaska Corp. Edgar Blatchford's decision came four days after he stepped down as...

More protests as Navajo Nation Council holds session (July 20, 2005)

Protests greeted the Navajo Nation Council as delegates met for a second day on Tuesday. This time it was the National Native American Youth Coalition, which urged passage of a major education reform law. Delegates approved the Sovereignty in...

Klamath Basin tribes back in Scotland for protest (July 20, 2005)

Members of four tribes from northern California and southern Oregon are in Scotland this week to call for the removal of six dams in the Klamath Basin. The Karuk, Yurok, Hoopa and Klamath tribes are protesting outside the shareholders meeting...

Northern Cheyenne Tribe to pay bond in drilling case (July 20, 2005)

The Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana and an environmental group have been ordered to post a $1,000 bond as part of their coalbed methane development case. The bond will be shared by the tribe and the Northern Plains Resource Council...

Closed hearing into Red Lake shootings continues (July 20, 2005)

A federal judge resumed a closed hearing into the March 21, 2005, shootings on the Red Lake Reservation in Minnesota. Louis Jourdain, 16, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder, according to The Minneapolis Star Tribune. He may be tried...

Deaths of Mohawk men treated as double homicide (July 20, 2005)

Authorities in Ontario, Canada, are treating the deaths of two Mohawk men as a double homicide. Peter Benedict, 31, and Jade Benedict, 27, were found dead in a remote industrial area of Cornwall. The men were described as cousins. Jade...

Wildfire still burning on Ute Mountain Ute lands (July 20, 2005)

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe of Colorado is paying close attention to a 300-acre fire burning in its archaeological park. The Dwelling Fire doubled in size on Monday and was 40 percent contained as of Tuesday. It threatens artifacts in...

Former chairwoman makes bid for office in California (July 20, 2005)

Wendy Schlater, the former chairwoman of the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians, is running for office in San Diego County. Schlater, a Democrat, will run for the county's district 5 seat. She told The San Diego Union-Tribune that she...

Editorial: McCain should drop NAGPRA amendment (July 20, 2005)

"Two little words could ruin any chance scientists have for further study on 9,400-year-old Kennewick Man. After years of delay, scientists recently had the chance to examine the ancient skeleton that was discovered along the banks of the Columbia River...

Chumash Tribe makes another trust land request (July 20, 2005)

Already facing criticism for an earlier application, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians is asking the Bureau of Indian Affairs to take about six more acres into trust. The BIA previously agreed to acquire 6.9 acres for the tribe....

Native woman killed in deliberately set fire (July 20, 2005)

Police in Regina, Saskatchewan, are treating the death of a 20-year-old Native woman as a homicide. The case may be linked to Native gang activity. Janine Rene Wesaquate, 20, was found in a burned-out house on Tuesday. Authorities confirmed...

Fire completely destroys tribe's vehicle shop (July 20, 2005)

A fast-moving fire destroyed the vehicle shop owned by the Nooksack Tribe of Washington. No one was injured in the blaze, which took hours to extinguish. It was probably caused by a spark from a blowtorch, the county fire...

Artifact theft on the rise as Missouri River drops (July 20, 2005)

Looters are stealing important cultural artifacts from Native burial grounds and other important sites along the Missouri River. Falling water levels in the river have exposed the sites to thieves. One man was recently caught with 15 bags of artifacts...

State court to rule on Catawba Nation leadership (July 20, 2005)

A circuit judge in South Carolina is refusing to dismiss a lawsuit over the Catawba Nation's leadership. A group of tribal members is contesting the current tribal council. They say the leaders were illegally elected. The tribe wants the case...

Schumer asked about Roberts' views on Natives (July 20, 2005)

John G. Roberts and President Bush at the White House. • Announcement | Video More on the Nominee: • DOJ Bio | Law.Com Profile Confirmation Hearings: • Jan. 29, 2003 | April 20, 2003 Indianz.Com Archive: • Bush nominee...

9th Circuit rules against tribe in California ICWA case (July 20, 2005)

California tribes do not have exclusive jurisdiction over Indian Child Welfare Act cases, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday. In a unanimous decision, a three-judge panel refused to transfer an Indian child welfare case to the Elem...

Canada's Supreme Court to issue logging decision (July 20, 2005)

The Supreme Court of Canada is expected to issue a decision today in two Native logging rights cases. Native loggers from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are seeking the right to harvest timber under 18th century treaties. They say Natives...

Bush names John G. Roberts to U.S. Supreme Court (July 20, 2005)

John G. Roberts and President Bush at the White House. • Announcement | Video More on the Nominee: • DOJ Bio | Law.Com Profile Confirmation Hearings: • Jan. 29, 2003 | April 20, 2003 Indianz.Com Archive: • Bush nominee...

Cason takes stand in Cobell trust fund hearing (July 20, 2005)

Occasionally defiant and frequently exasperated, associate deputy Interior secretary Jim Cason took the stand in the Cobell v. Norton case on Tuesday to defend the Bush administration's handling of the Indian trust. On day 51 of a complex evidentiary hearing,...