Southern Ute Tribe recovers $3M lost to Enron (February 1, 2006)

The Southern Ute Tribe of Colorado has recovered more than $3 million it lost in the collapse of energy giant Enron. The tribe was an Enron investor and was participating in the bankruptcy case against the failed company. But the...

Police investigate murder of Eastern Pequot man (February 1, 2006)

Police in Connecticut are investigating the murder of Anthony Hamlin, a member of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation. Upset that his tribe was denied recognition, Hamlin, 40, was planning to move to Virginia. But on the night he train...

Congressman returns money to Mississippi Choctaws (February 1, 2006)

Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio) returned $1,000 to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, saying he never wanted the money in the first place. LaTourette doesn't know why he received the donation but he is facing questions about his ties to...

Lawsuit filed to stop Alaska Native dental aides (February 1, 2006)

The American Dental Association asked a federal judge to shut down a program operated by the e Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium that allows dental aides to perform dental services in rural villages. The ADA has been fighting the use...

Blackfeet council sets hearing to remove member (February 1, 2006)

A council member for the Blackfeet Nation faces removal due to alleged conflicts of interest. Sam "Pat" Schildt was suspended last month for his relationships with oil and gas companies. He admits to advising them about how to deal with...

Money sought for Indian education positions (February 1, 2006)

The Nebraska Education Department is seeking money to fund two Indian education positions. Education Commissioner Doug Christensen said the state needs money for an Indian education director and an Indian drug prevention specialist. Currently, the positions are funded by a...

Indian candidate for governor trails in campaign funds (February 1, 2006)

Ron Volesky, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor of South Dakota, only raised $2,715 in contributions as of 2005. That amount pales in comparison to the amount raised by...

First Nation to start cellular, Internet company (February 1, 2006)

The Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation in Manitoba is creating its own cellular phone and high-speed Internet company. Chief Jerry Primrose said starting the company would be more cost effective than paying for the services. He hopes to land contracts with other...

McKosato sees positive role for Natives in media (February 1, 2006)

Harlan McKosato, the former host of Native America Calling, spoke to journalism students at Oklahoma University on Tuesday McKosato said journalists have a responsibility to present accurate and fair information about Native people. He also said Native people need to...

Tribal leaders attend meeting on Red Lake shootings (February 1, 2006)

Tribal and school officials for the Red Lake Nation met with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the FBI and U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger for the first time to discuss the March 21, 2005, shootings on the reservation. Details of the...

Opinion: The facts about Shakopee trust land bid (February 1, 2006)

"Scott County Commissioner Barbara Marschall does a huge disservice to Scott County residents and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) as she misleads the public on the SMSC's pending fee to trust land application. Her distortions reveal a desperate and...

Bill to create buffer zone around Bear Butte killed (February 1, 2006)

A bill to create a buffer zone around sacred Bear Butte was killed by a South Dakota legislative committee on Tuesday. The bill would have established a four-mile zone around Bear Butte where liquor permits would not be sold. The...

Yankton Sioux Tribe emergency room gets reprieve (February 1, 2006)

The Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota will get to keep its emergency room, at least until the end of September, thanks to the state's Congressional delegation. The Indian Health Service was going to eliminate overnight and Sunday hours at...

School files another appeal to save Chief Illiniwek (February 1, 2006)

The University of Illinois filed a second appeal in hopes of keeping its Chief Illiniwek mascot off the NCAA's list of hostile and abusive Indian mascots. A staff review found that the Chief was detrimental to Indian people. That...

Alito sworn in as 110th Supreme Court justice (February 1, 2006)

Samuel A. Alito Jr. was sworn in as the 110th Supreme Court justice on Tuesday, shortly after the Senate voted 48 to 42 to confirm him. The vote tally, divided largely along party lines, was the slimmest margin since...

Tribes, foundation join together to fight poverty (February 1, 2006)

Three tribes and the Northwest Area Foundation signed long-term partnerships to fight poverty on their reservations. The Lummi Nation of Washington, the Turtle Mountain Chippewa in North Dakota and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota will work with...

BIA takes stab at off-reservation gaming regulations (February 1, 2006)

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is considering regulations to clarify how land is taken into trust for gaming but the proposal wouldn't go as far as a bill pending in the Senate. George Skibine, the BIA official in charge of...