Oneida Nation to make school tax payments (August 10, 2005)

The Oneida Nation of New York plans to make payments to local schools for land taken off the tax rolls. The tribe will make the payments as part of its "Silver Covenant" program. But the schools might not get the...

Tribe says lobbying firm derailed recognition bid (August 10, 2005)

The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation of Connecticut is accusing a Republican law firm with connections to White House of derailing its bid for federal recognition. In court papers, the tribe says the Barbour Griffith & Rogers firm violated a court order...

Court limits lawsuits under historic preservation act (August 10, 2005)

A federal appeals court on Tuesday curtailed the ability of tribes to bring lawsuits aimed at protecting cultural, historic and sacred sites. In a precedent-setting decision, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals held that the National Historic Preservation Act doesn't...

Siletz Tribe moving forward with two new projects (August 10, 2005)

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians in Oregon is moving forward with two projects in hopes of diversifying its economy. The tribe is building an $8 million recreational-vehicle resort and a $4.7 million office building. The projects are located...

Ceremony planned for elderly Navajo couple's home (August 10, 2005)

A ceremony will be held on Thursday to dedicate the new home of an elderly Navajo couple. Mary and Kee Augustine received the home thanks to the efforts of the Stardust Center for Affordable Homes and the Family at...

University of Utah mulls position on 'Utes' (August 10, 2005)

Officials at the University of Utah are still deciding what to do about the NCAA's new mascot policy. The school is researching the issue and has asked the NCAA for clarification on the use of the "Utes" nickname and...

Cherokee couple faces another challenge to marriage (August 10, 2005)

A second lawsuit has been filed to challenge the same-sex marriage of a Cherokee Nation couple. A group of Cherokee Nation council members filed a lawsuit last Friday to block the marriage license obtained by Kathy Reynolds and Dawn McKinley....

Even more reaction to NCAA policy on mascots (August 10, 2005)

More views and opinions on the new Indian mascot policy of the NCAA that bans the use of "hostile and abusive" images during post-season tournaments. RACISM STILL ALIVE "Haven't Native Americans, one of the most brutalized and exploited groups to...

Oglala Sioux Tribe to begin patrols of Whiteclay (August 10, 2005)

The Oglala Sioux Tribe and the state of Nebraska will sign an agreement to allow tribal police officers to enforce state law in the border town of Whiteclay. The tribe's reservation extends into Nebraska although it does not include Whiteclay....

Editorial: Good riddance to 'demeaning' mascots (August 10, 2005)

"When a mascot dresses up in Indian costume and performs a 'war dance' or yells 'war whoops,' it is not to honor Indian culture. Imagine the discomfort of Indian spectators when a gross caricature of their race performs on the...

Yet another firing at First Nations University (August 10, 2005)

The First Nations University of Canada fired its international projects director on Monday, citing financial reasons. Leonzo Barreno said he was "confused and shocked" to learn that he was terminated. He is the latest in a string of top...

AFN presents plan to address First Nations issues (August 10, 2005)

The Assembly of First Nations submitted a 10-year plan to the premiers in Canada to address housing, education and economic issues facing Native communities. Native leaders met with the premiers on Tuesday to discuss the plan. The two groups...

Pechanga Band says money not behind enrollment (August 10, 2005)

Money wasn't a factor in the disenrollment of more than 130 people, the chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians said. Chairman Marc Macarro said the tribe has a fundamental right to decide its membership. That right was upheld...

State agrees to buy land to protect Indian mound (August 10, 2005)

The state of Florida will pay $4.7 million to protect the tallest Indian burial mound in the state. The state will buy 109.6 acres and will pay a landowner not to develop another 1,281.6 acres surrounding the Letchworth Mounds...

Review: Book sheds light on Indian civilizations (August 10, 2005)

"So much guilt, myth, and historical misinformation has accumulated around the saga of the American Indian that it is a wonder that anything new can possibly be said. Yet in fact we understand comparatively little about North America before...

Jeb Bush calls mascot policy 'offensive' to tribe (August 10, 2005)

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) continued to rally against the NCAA's new policy on mascots on Tuesday, calling it "offensive to Native Americans." Bush cited the support of the Seminole Tribe for Florida State University's "Seminoles" mascot. He said...

California tribe sues over federal water plan (August 10, 2005)

The unrecognized Winnemen Wintu Tribe joined environmentalists and fishermen in filing a lawsuit on Tuesday that challenges a federal water plan in California. The tribe and its allies say the approval of an October 2004 biological opinion endangers salmon in...

Effort seeks to preserve endangered languages (August 10, 2005)

The National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities have launched an effort to preserve endangered languages throughout the world. The project has so far awarded $4.4 million in grants. An additional $2 million a year is now...

EPA issues Yucca Mountain nuclear waste standard (August 10, 2005)

MAP: Tribes located near Yucca Mountain site. The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed a new radiation exposure standard for nuclear waste at the Yucca Mountain facility in Nevada. The EPA set an exposure standard of 15 millirems of...

Venezuela returns title to indigenous groups (August 10, 2005)

Six indigenous communities in Venezuela received title to their ancestral lands on Tuesday in the country's first recognition of Native land rights. The country recognized Native title to 314,000 acres in the eastern states of Anzoategui and Monagas. President Hugo...

County opposes Chumash Tribe's land-into-trust (August 10, 2005)

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to oppose a second land-into-trust application by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. A letter to the Bureau of Indian Affairs cites the loss of tax revenue if the 5.81...

Democrats to make change to Burns, Abramoff ad (August 10, 2005)

The Montana Democratic Party will make a slight change to the wording of its ad that criticizes Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Montana) for his ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The ad will clarify that Burns not only received campaign...