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The Week in Review
ending July 20

Residents of Heber-Overgaard, Arizona, protest lack of charges against Valinda Jo Elliott, who contributed to the worst fire in state history.. Photo AP.

Arizona residents protest
inaction on fire-starter.
Photo © AP.

Missed the week's stories? Get a complete listing here.

Want In The Hoop's list of the week's Winners and Losers? Wait no more.

Trust fund limits defeated in bill
An attempt to limit an historical accounting owed to more than 500,000 American Indians was scuttled this week after a heavy lobbying effort in the House.

Debate lasted two days on a spending bill that the Bush administration supported. But rather than limit an accounting to the year 1985 through 2000, lawmakers broke with the White House and stripped the Department of Interior's $19.7 billion budget of provisions opposed by Indian beneficiaries and tribes.

Other provisions affecting trust reform remained, however. The bill limits compensation for two court investigators, requires the Interior to oust a group of Indian Country advisers with new replacements and seeks information private financial data about the plaintiffs in the Cobell v. Norton lawsuit.

Get the Story:
House trust fund bill opposed (7/15)
Full accounting said not 'cost effective' (7/15)
Objections on trust fund ignored (7/16)
House to debate DOI funding bill (7/16)
IIM project affects little in trust (7/16)
Debate rages on Interior bill (7/17)
White House approved DOI spending bill (7/17)
House clears DOI budget bill (7/18)
House vote a victory on trust fund (7/18)
Trust debate centers on budget (7/19)
House lawmakers argued for trust limits (7/19)

Round two on sacred sites
The Senate Indian Affairs Committee this week held its second in a series of hearings on sacred sites as the House jumped into a movement that has garnered attention nationwide.

Department of Interior officials were in the hot seat before the panel but were criticized for not having much to say. That didn't stop complains about the lack of tribal consultation and bias towards the energy industry on drilling and mine developments.

A new House bill seeks to correct these problems by requiring more input into decisions affecting federal lands. Tribes can petition for special protections for burial grounds, ceremonial sites and other sacred areas.

Get the Story:
Zuni Pueblo takes mine fight on the road (7/17)
Calif. tribes oppose power plant (7/17)
Norton aides silent on sacred sites (7/18)
Sacred site bill to be introduced (7/18)
Norton accused of ignoring Zuni Pueblo (7/18)
Puebloan site vandalized (7/18)
Bill seeks to empower tribes (7/19)

more stories
There's still more to read in the recap of the top stories.

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