Champion dog sled musher speaks about suicide (December 2, 2005)

Ramy Brooks, a champion dog sled musher, is speaking publicly about his past to raise awareness of depression and suicide among Alaska Natives Brooks, who is Yupik and Athabascan, struggled with depression as a teen and tried to commit...

Radio show focuses on tribal lobbying practices (December 2, 2005)

Tribal nations need to be represented in Washington, D.C., but changes in lobbying practices and the Jack Abramoff scandal have raised serious questions about the field, experts said this week. Appearing on the nationally broadcast radio show Native America Calling,...

Cherokee court hears same-sex marriage case (December 2, 2005)

The top court of the Cherokee Nation heard arguments in a same-sex marriage case on Thursday. Dawn McKinley and Kathy Reynolds, tribal members, received a license to marry. But a tribal lawyer filed suit to challenge the license and...

Tribal Histories Project opens at Montana museum (December 2, 2005)

The Crow Tribe and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe are the subject of two new exhibits at the Western Heritage Center in Billings. "Parading Through History: The Apsaalooke Nation" focuses on Crow culture, history and language. "Coming Home: The Northern Cheyenne...

Judge to decide on access to Jourdain sentencing (December 2, 2005)

A federal judge held a hearing on Thursday to decide who will gain access to the sentencing hearing of Louis Jourdain, who pleaded guilty to one charge in connection with the March 21, 2005, shootings on the Red Lake Reservation....

Navajo Nation calls attention to HIV/AIDS (December 2, 2005)

Leaders of the Navajo Nation observed World AIDS Day with warnings about the HIV/AIDS threat facing the Navajo community. Navajo Nation Vice President Frank Dayish Jr. said there are currently 256 HIV/AIDS cases on the reservation. He said an average...

Mohawk members file suit over chemical dumping (December 2, 2005)

Forty members of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe of New York filed suit against Alcoa and General Motors Corporation, accusing the companies of polluting the Saint Lawrence River. The tribal members say chemical dumping by the companies has contaminated...

O'odham councilor removed for alcohol incidents (December 2, 2005)

A member of the Tohono O'odham Nation Legislative Council was removed from office on Thursday for two alcohol-related incidents. Dennis Jose, who represented the Sells District, appeared at a hearing but didn't make a statement, The Arizona Daily Star reported....

Woman sentenced to nearly 20 years for abuse (December 2, 2005)

A 46-year-old member of the Northern Ute Tribe was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison for abusing her two young grandsons. Charlissa Sireech pleaded guilty to seven felony counts of assault. She severely beat her grandsons, sending one...

Mashantucket Tribe goes green for golf courses (December 2, 2005)

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is using recycled water to irrigate two golf courses. The tribe obtained a wastewater re-use permit, the first of its kind, from the state Department of Environmental Protection. The permit allows the tribe to use...

Raising of Shasta Dam would destroy sacred sites (December 2, 2005)

The Winnemem Wintu Tribe is battling a federal plan to raise the Shasta Dam in California. The Bureau of Reclamation is proposing to raise the dam by nearly 19 feet in order in to enlarge the reservoir. The agency says...

Lummi Nation burns house that was used to sell drugs (December 2, 2005)

Members and leaders of the Lummi Nation of Washington held a cleansing ceremony to burn down a house that was used to sell drugs. The house was being rented to a person who is in jail for drug-dealing. The...

Networks given 'F' for lack of Indian roles (December 2, 2005)

The Multi-Ethnic Media Coalition released its fifth annual report card on the racial and ethnic diversity of roles on the four major television networks. Mark Reed of American Indians in Film and Television gave the networks an "F" because there...

Virgil Kirk, Navajo chief justice, passes away (December 2, 2005)

Virgil Kirk Sr., one of the first chief justices of the Navajo Nation Supreme Court, died on Wednesday. He was 82. Kirk was considered one of the pioneers of the Navajo Nation justice system. He served as a district court...

NYT: Abramoff could reach deal with investigators (December 2, 2005)

Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff may try to reach a deal with federal investigators within the next six weeks, The New York Times reports. Abramoff is under pressure now that his former partner, Michael Scanlon, pleaded guilty and is cooperating with...

David Wilkins: On the passing of Vine Deloria Jr. (December 2, 2005)

"Vine Deloria Jr., our indigenous champion, has walked on, causing a tsunami of emotions that will rock the heart of Indian country, and beyond, for a long time. He was never quite comfortable with the notion that he was, in...

Haskell Prof: Deloria unrecognized for work (December 2, 2005)

"I am saddened by the death of Vine Deloria Jr. This sadness is compounded by the fact that outside of the indigenous communities, institutions and nations of North America, too few Americans really know what Deloria accomplished. Consequently, the general...

Groups seek probe of Reed's role in scandal (December 2, 2005)

Three watchdog groups in Texas filed a complaint on Thursday, accusing Republican activist Ralph Reed of violating the state's lobbying laws by working against a tribe. Common Cause Texas, Public Citizen and Texans for Public Justice said Reed lobbied...

Lawmakers deny letters influenced by Abramoff (December 2, 2005)

Members of Congress say letters they wrote in support of an Indian school program had nothing to do with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. A total of 13 lawmakers wrote the Interior Department to support the program. But the department subsequently...

Opinion: Dorgan should come clean about probe (December 2, 2005)

"Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi almost has it right. This week, after Republican Randy "Duke" Cunningham pleaded guilty to fraud, conspiracy to commit bribery and tax evasion, she said this was "the latest example of the culture of corruption that...

Dorgan accused of conflict in Abramoff probe (December 2, 2005)

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota) is being accused of another conflict of interest in the Jack Abramoff lobbying probe. Dorgan met with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts, a client of Abramoff's. He also took at least $11,500 in political...

Editorial: Dorgan 'tainted' in probe of Abramoff (December 2, 2005)

"Democrats think the investigation of Jack Abramoff, a lobbyist for Indian tribes, will expose Republicans as corrupt and help Democrats gain congressional seats. They'd better think again. Turns out that in 2002 Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., vice chairman of the...