Alaska Native center holding first film festival (January 10, 2005)

The Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage is holding its first major film festival this weekend. The two-day festival features short and feature-length films from Alaska, Canada and the Lower 48. Highlights include the all-Inuit "Atanarjuat" and "The Ghost Riders,"...

Study shows impact of gaming in Indian Country (January 10, 2005)

Economic and social conditions in Indian Country improved substantially over the past decade, according to a Harvard University study released last week, with progress by gaming tribes outpacing non-gaming tribes. Using 10 years of U.S. Census Bureau data, researchers at...

NARF files lawsuit over subsistence rights (January 10, 2005)

The Native American Rights Fund on Friday filed a lawsuit seeking to protect the subsistence rights of Alaska Natives. The lawsuit was filed against the Interior and Agriculture departments. It is meant to counteract a similar suit filed by Alaska...

AIM radio program draws audience in California (January 10, 2005)

A new radio program hosted by the American Indian Movement in California is growing in popularity. "American Indian Movement Today" debuted in September. The weekly program, hosted by Joseph Redbear and Marty FireRider Hiles, delves into a wide range of...

Firm seeks to bring phones to Navajo Nation (January 10, 2005)

A startup firm with Indian backing is seeking to bring telephone service to 2,500 homes on the Navajo Nation. Sacred Wind Communications will install a wireless system in hopes of avoiding high costs associated with land lines. In rural areas...

Oklahoma could be next to add Indian law to bar exam (January 10, 2005)

Oklahoma could be next state to add Indian law to its bar exam. The state Board of Bar Examiners discussed the idea but tabled it last November. An official said addition of Indian law to the test is inevitable. The...

Tribal colleges seek help for non-Indian students (January 10, 2005)

Leaders of Montana tribal colleges will testify today in support of a bill to subsidize the cost of educating non-Indian students. Federal funding only provides money for Indian students. So tribal colleges have to shoulder much of the cost for...

Northern Cheyenne youth complete 400-mile run (January 10, 2005)

A group of 90 young members of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana completed the 400-mile Breakout Memorial Run on Sunday. The run commemorates an escape by tribal ancestors from an Army prison in Nebraska on January 9, 1879. About...

Lumbee recognition bill introduced again (January 10, 2005)

A bill to recognize the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina has been re-introduced by Rep. Mike McIntyre (D). McIntyre and Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R) tried to get the bill passed last year but faced opposition from some members of Congress...

Supreme Court to hear Oneida Nation land dispute (January 10, 2005)

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear oral arguments in Oneida Indian Nation v. City of Sherrill. The tribe, based in New York, has purchased properties in its land claim area. A federal judge and a federal appeals court...

Vine Deloria is ICT's American Indian Visionary (January 10, 2005)

Author Vine Deloria Jr. has been selected to receive the American Indian Visionary Award by the newspaper Indian Country Today. Deloria, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, was chosen for displaying ''the highest qualities and attributes of leadership...

Two California tribes donate $1M to tsunami effort (January 10, 2005)

Two California tribes with casinos have donated $1 million aid the victims of the South Asian tsunami that has claimed the lives of more than 140,000 people in 11 countries. The Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians and the United Auburn...

Rosebud Sioux Tribe rejects surplus military housing (January 10, 2005)

The Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota has rejected surplus military housing over concerns of asbestos, construction and cost. Ellsworth Air Force Base is offering 54 homes to reservations in the state. But since the homes would arrive in the...

Feud that led to BIA deputy's firing resolved (January 10, 2005)

A feud within a small California tribe that led to the firing of former Bureau of Indian Affairs deputy Wayne Smith has been resolved in a manner that he originally backed. Rhonda Morningstar Pope won control of the Buena Vista...

Mark Trahant: Three cheers for the First Amendment (January 10, 2005)

"The First Amendment is vibrant in Washington state. We, the people, are raising dissent worthy of celebration. In this post-election season, citizens have called on four of the five freedoms guaranteed in the Bill of Rights: free speech, free press,...

Jodi Rave: Native participation needed in politics (January 10, 2005)

"Montana is at the forefront. Its eight Native lawmakers arguably give Natives there the highest per-capita legislative representation in state governments. But other states could do better. The National Conference of State Legislatures counts only three Natives in the Arizona...

Yellow Bird: Gaming only a temporary fix for tribes (January 10, 2005)

"As a tribal member of the Three Affiliated Tribes, I understand how important casino funding can be. When my mother passed away, the funding put aside for funeral expenses was extremely helpful. The tribal college, along with the alcohol, gaming,...