GAO: Telephone service lacking in Indian Country (February 17, 2006)

Despite improvements in bridging the digital divide, many homes in Indian Country still lack basic telephone service, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office. Nationwide, 98 percent of homes are telephone subscribers. But only 69 percent of...

Native American a 'four letter word' after Abramoff (February 17, 2006)

Indians are "hands off" in Washington due to the Jack Abramoff scandal, the chairman of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Michigan said. Aaron Payment said the scandal has created a negative climate around Indian issues that won't go...

Congressman seeks review of Seneca land buys (February 17, 2006)

Rep. Brian M. Higgins (D-New York) asked Interior Secretary Gale Norton to review the Seneca Nation's land buys after The Buffalo News published a story that showed the tribe was buying multimillion dollar properties for as little as $1....

Yakama Nation finally fills tribal court positions (February 17, 2006)

The Yakama Nation of Washington filled four appellate court positions, after four years of not having an appeals process for the tribal court. Chairman Louis Cloud tied the move to a series of lawsuits filed by tribal members in federal...

Valbuena: Yes, tribes are sovereign governments (February 17, 2006)

Ed. Note: Lynn Valbuena is the former chairwoman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians in California. She also served as secretary of the Nationa Indian Gaming Association. "Most people are not aware that Indian tribes are sovereign nations....

Review: 'In the Shadow of Wounded Knee' (February 17, 2006)

"'In the Shadow of Wounded Knee' is a scrap of a history book, touching in the amateurishness of its writing and bracing in its definition of certain moral challenges faced by an exuberant new nation spilling over its colonial...

Tribes receive meat from Yellowstone bison (February 17, 2006)

The federal government has distributed bison meat, head and hides from slaughtered Yellowstone National Park bison to 28 tribes, The Billings Gazette reports. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has assumed a lead role in moving the animals to...

Democrat leader accused of bullying First Nations (February 17, 2006)

A senior government official in Saskatchewan who belongs to the New Demoratic Party is being accused of bullying the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations after a tribal leader said was willing to work with the conservative Saskatchewan Party. FSIN Chief...

Tribes oppose education reorganization at BIA (February 17, 2006)

The Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, both of South Dakota, are opposing the reorganization of education programs at the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The BIA is planning to restructure the Office of Indian Education Programs by...

Pauma Band bans nine amid heightened security (February 17, 2006)

The Pauma Band of Mission Indians banned nine people from the reservation and is taking extra security measures in light of recent violence on the Rincon Reservation. The nine people won't be allowed back on the reservation unless tribal members...

Board won't ask schools to change Indian mascots (February 17, 2006)

The Nebraska School Activities Association said this week that it can't ask schools in the state to change their Indian mascots. Fred Williams, the superintendent for the Winnebago Public School district on the Winnebago Reservation, had asked the NSAA for...

Santee Sioux Tribe reclaims jurisdiction from state (February 17, 2006)

As of 12:01am Thursday morning, the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska resumed full civil and criminal jurisdiction on its reservation. The tribe fell under Public Law 280, which granted the state of Nebraska jurisdiction in Indian Country. But the state...

Pechanga Band donates $600k to tourism bureau (February 17, 2006)

The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians has donated $600,000 to the Temecula Valley Convention and Visitor's Bureau. The money will be used to promote tourism in the Temecula area, where the tribe is based. It is the largest donation of...

Navajo Nation president issues drought warning (February 17, 2006)

Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. issued a drought warning for the entire three-state reservation. Shirley is urging residents to take precautions to deal with drought conditions. The Navajo Nation Council also says people should being conservation measures. Shirley directed...

NCAI hires new governmental affairs director (February 17, 2006)

The National Congress of American Indians has hired Heather Dawn Thompson, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, as its governmental affairs director. Thompson, a former lawyer/lobbyist at Patton Boggs and former Senate aide, said she...

Gonzales won't step away from Abramoff investigation (February 17, 2006)

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said he won't remove himself from overseeing the Jack Abramoff corruption investigation. Senate Democrats asked Gonzales, an appointee of President Bush, to recuse himself, citing the number of Republicans affected by the investigation. Abramoff was a...