Heart disease, cancer showing up in Alaska Natives (October 19, 2004)

Heart disease and cancer were once non-existent among Alaska Natives but are now showing up in significant numbers, according to recent studies. One study showed that Alaska Natives have a greater risk of dying from heart disease than non-Natives. While...

South Dakota challenge to tribes rejected by high court (October 19, 2004)

The U.S. Supreme Court averted a possible extension of one of its most controversial rulings on Monday by refusing to take a dispute testing the reach of state jurisdiction into Indian Country. Without comment, the nine justices rejected an appeal...

Renzi wins endorsement of Navajo Nation Council (October 19, 2004)

Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Arizona) won the endorsement of the Navajo Nation Council as a new poll shows he leads Democrat Paul Babbitt by a whopping 23 points. "This endorsement is a tremendous honor, and I am humbled by the strongsupport...

Alaska Natives offered money for corporation vote (October 19, 2004)

Shareholders of Chugach, an Alaska Native regional corporation, were offered up to $10,000 in cash prizes for participating in an upcoming hotly-contested election. The letter offered prizes of $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500 prizes. It was sent out by the majority...

Indian Eddie: Man fought for Native right to vote (October 19, 2004)

"In 1948 a 44-year-old former Marine sergeant and World War II veteran was the principal at Laguna Pueblo Day School and taught classes there. Taking advantage of the GI Bill, he also took courses at the University of New Mexico....

Complaint filed over Northern Cheyenne election (October 19, 2004)

Ten people have filed a complaint over the primary election on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation that saw incumbent president Geri Small get the most votes. Rival candidate David Roundstone said he and the other complainants have asked the tribal court...

Tribes will be hardest hit by power plant closure (October 19, 2004)

The Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation will be hardest hit by the pending closure of a power plant nearly 300 miles away. Southern California Edison plans to shut down the Mohave Generating Station near Laughlin, Nevada, by the end...

Thune's record on Indian issues called non-existent (October 19, 2004)

Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Thune is hoping to attract more Native votes but opponent Sen. Tom Daschle (D) says his record on Indian issues is non-existent. Thune served six years in the House but sponsored or co-sponsored just three...

HBO program 'Real Sports' to air mascot segment (October 19, 2004)

The HBO program "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" will air a segment on the use of Indians as mascots tonight. Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, will appear on the show. Part of the...

Nader not upset over LaDuke's endorsement of Kerry (October 19, 2004)

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader says he's not upset his former running mate, Ojibwe activist Winona La Duke, has endorsed Sen. John Kerry (D-Massachusetts). "She's her own person. She can make her own decisions," Nader was quoted as saying. Nader...

Metis Nation won't recognize probe of election (October 19, 2004)

The Metis Nation of Saskatchewan won't recognize the results of the province's investigation into a recent election. The probe started when it was unclear who won the election. The province subsequently pulled $400,000 in funding for the Metis Nation. President...

Native kids sent home from dilapidated school (October 19, 2004)

A school on the Pikangikum First Nation in Ontario has been closed and all children sent home after several buildings being used as classrooms were condemned. Chief Alex Peters blames the federal government. He said the First Nation was promised...

Native man's death linked to drugs, not police (October 19, 2004)

An inquest into the death of a Metis man while in police custody began on Monday. The first witness was the coroner. He said Clayton Willey, 33, died due to high quantities of cocaine in his system. But Bryna Willey,...

Montana won't join fight over tribe's riverbed (October 19, 2004)

Democrats on the Montana State Land Board outvoted Republicans in refusing to join a lawsuit challenging the Northern Cheyenne Tribe's ownership of half of a riverbed. Republican Gov. Judy Martz and Republican Secretary of State Bob Brown wanted to assert...

California tribe to use grant to fight 'club drugs' (October 19, 2004)

A small tribe in California has received a $1.5 million grant to fight the use of club drugs among youth in the San Diego area. The Jamul Indian Village will work with the Institute of Public Strategies and other groups...

Drug abuse prevention grants target Native youth (October 19, 2004)

The Pima Youth Partnership, a non-profit organization aimed at fighting drug abuse among Native youth in southern Arizona, has received a grant from the White House Office of National Drug Control. The group says it is targeting drug abuse on...

Friends hope to carry out Kiowa veteran's dream (October 19, 2004)

Kent Ware Sr., a member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma and a World War II veteran, died August 13 at the age of 81. Friends hope to carry out his dream of a monument for Indian veterans. Ware was...

Yellow Bird: Tribal college leaders overlooked (October 19, 2004)

"American Indian reservations and their governments sometimes lack the openness and efficiency of the state and federal government systems. Mistakes and scandals sometime are splashed over regional and national newspapers. Yet, hidden behind those headlines are some really outstanding leaders....

Christian Coalition still after Poarch Creeks (October 19, 2004)

The Christian Coalition of Alabama is still opposing the Poarch Creek Band's efforts to expand gaming after being linked to two Washington insiders under federal investigation. Lobbyist Jack Abramoff and public relations consultant Michael Scanlon paid former national Christian Coalition...

Convicted grave robber faces even more charges (October 19, 2004)

A Nevada man convicted of stealing the remains of two Indian children from a gravesite has been indicted for trying to arrange the deaths of the judge and the investigator who put him behind bars. Jack Harelson was convicted in...

Tribe's management at bison range protested (October 19, 2004)

A group of 23 national wildlife refuge managers is opposing tribal management of some duties at the National Bison Range in Montana. The managers say the annual funding agreement between the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the U.S. Fish...

Republicans register more voters in New Mexico (October 19, 2004)

The Republican Party has registered more voters in New Mexico than the Democrat Party, The Washington Post reports. The GOP's gain in the battleground state, however, is not significant. The paper said Republicans outregistered Democrats by about one percentage point....