Leech Lake Band rescinds unauthorized approval of power line deal (February 3, 2011)

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Indians in Minnesota has withdrawn an unauthorized power line deal with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Secretary/Treasurer Michael J. Bongo wrote a letter to the commission last October that purported to approve a transmission...

New president of Navajo Nation agrees to repay tribe in funding flap (February 3, 2011)

Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly has agreed to pay back nearly all of the $8,850 that he was accused of taking from the tribe. Shelly reached a settlement with special prosecutor Alan Balaran and all charges against him were dismissed....

School district won't remove Sherman Alexie's award-winning book (February 3, 2011)

A public school district in Montana won't be taking award-winning Sherman Alexie book out of the curriculum. Michele Smith, a parent, and several others objected to the use of language in "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian."...

Lac Du Flambeau council member sentenced for fourth DUI incident (February 3, 2011)

A council member for the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians in Wisconsin was sentenced for his fourth drunken driving incident. Joseph Wildcat Sr., 48, was ordered to give up driver's license for two years, pay $1,489...

Navajo Nation DJ helps radio station in Utah win industry accolades (February 3, 2011)

A 34-year-old member of the Navajo Nation wakes up nearly 150,000 people in Utah as the host of the morning show on U92. Courtney Begaye, also known as DJ Poetik C, airs "The Navajo on The Radio" from 6am...

Akin Gump partner stops blogging after post on 'ugly' Yaqui prayer (February 3, 2011)

A partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has stopped posting on a conservative blog he founded after running into controversy with his firm. Paul Meringoff, formerly of PowerLine, was forced to apologize after he described a prayer...

Lydia Whirlwind Soldier: Tribal Law and Order Act a good first start (February 3, 2011)

The following opinion by Lydia Whirlwind Soldier appears in the current issue of the Native Sun News. All content © Native Sun News. The new Tribal Law and Order Act was signed into law by President Obama on July 29,...

Jicarilla Apache Nation looks to eliminate more than 200 employees (February 3, 2011)

The Jicarilla Apache Nation of New Mexico has passed a resolution that could result in the elimination of over 200 jobs. The resolution calls for each tribal entity to eliminate three full-time positions within six months. The resolution reportedly states...

Authorities detain man in connection with Yankton Sioux homicides (February 3, 2011)

Immigration authorities have detained a man who was questioned in connection with the murders of three people from the Yankton Sioux Tribe. Omar Mohamed Kalmio, a citizen of Somalia, was questioned in North Dakota about the deaths of Jolene Zephier,...

Vincent Armenta: Chumash Tribe wishes city happy 100th birthday (February 3, 2011)

"Last month our Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation provided the Solvang Centennial Committee with its first major donation to help sponsor three key events during the city’s centennial celebration throughout 2011. When the Solvang Centennial Committee’s grant application...

ATNI News: Tribes heartened by Obama's position on Indian issues (February 3, 2011)

"Brian Cladoosby, the president of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, was selected by other tribal leaders to lead the discussion at a momentous December meeting with President Barack Obama. The next day, Dec. 16, Obama would take part in...

Northern Cheyenne man appointed to Board of Regents in Montana (February 3, 2011)

Major Robinson, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, has been appointed to the Montana Board of Regents. Robinson is the owner of Redstone Consulting. He co‐founded the Montana Indian Business Alliance, the Montana Tribal Tourism Alliance and The...

Man faces criminal charges for trying to divert Shingle Springs mail (February 3, 2011)

A California man has been indicted in federal court for trying to divert mail going to the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians. Cesar Caballero, 41, is charged with three misdemeanor counts of mail obstruction. He allegedly filed out...

Editorial: US supports Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples (February 3, 2011)

"The United States has thrown its support behind the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which is a non-binding, aspirational document, addresses many issues of grave concern to...

Senate rebuffs attempt to repeal health reform law including IHCIA (February 3, 2011)

The Democratic-controlled Senate rejected an attempt to repeal the national health reform law that includes the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. All Democrats voted against an amendment to repeal the law while all Republicans voted for it. However, Republicans fall...

Suquamish Tribe turns treaty fishing right into global money maker (February 3, 2011)

The Suquamish Tribe of Washington is turning its treaty fishing right into an economic development machine. The tribe's waters are home to one of the world's largest colonies of geoducks, a large clam that is considered a delicacy in Asia...

New York governor anticipates $130M from cigarette tax on tribes (February 3, 2011)

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) released his proposed budget and said he anticipates the state will collect $130 million in tobacco taxes in Indian Country. The state is taxing wholesalers who sell to reservation smoke shops. The Seneca Nation...

NYT Blog: Brazil releases photos of an isolated tribe in the Amazon (February 3, 2011)

"Brazilian officials have released new aerial photographs of a highly isolated tribe living deep in the Amazon rainforest in a bid to draw attention to the threat posed to its existence by illegal logging in neighboring Peru. This is...

Obama nominates Arvo Mikkanen, Kiowa, to serve as federal judge (February 3, 2011)

President Barack Obama nominated Arvo Mikkanen, a member of the Kiowa Tribe, to serve as a federal judge for the Western District of Oklahoma. Mikkanen currently works as an assistant federal prosecutor the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Western District...