South Dakota court takes voting rights question (January 24, 2005)

The South Dakota Supreme Court last week accepted a question to help resolve an ongoing Native voting rights suit. The high court has to decide whether state lawmakers can change the boundaries of the legislative map. The lawmakers say the...

California tribe wins round in testy water fight (January 24, 2005)

The Hoopa Valley Tribe claimed victory last week in a long-running water battle that has pitted non-Indians against Indians in northern California. The tribe has been in litigation over the Trinity River for the past four years. In January 2001,...

Kickapoo Tribe still looking to resolve water woes (January 24, 2005)

The Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas is still waiting for action to resolve the long-standing water crisis on the reservation. The tribe is asking the Nemaha-Brown Watershed Joint District No. 7 to exercise eminent domain over land needed for a reservoir...

Denver won't drop case against Columbus protesters (January 24, 2005)

Prosecutors in Denver, Colorado, won't drop charges against 230 people arrested at last year's Columbus Day parade despite acquittals of the eight leaders of the protest. The city says the protesters broke the law by trying to block the parade,...

Native women form sorority at Colorado university (January 24, 2005)

A group of Native women at the University of Northern Colorado are seeking to join a national Indian sorority. Aubrey Nitzberg, a member of the Southern Ute Tribe, is president of Native Sorority. The group of nine women is raising...

Iraqi war veteran guilty of reservation murder (January 24, 2005)

A federal jury convicted an Iraqi war veteran of second-degree murder for a shooting on the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. James Gregg, 23, was acquitted of first-degree murder. Prosecutors said he shot James Fallis, 26, five times...

Navajo Nation warned about aircraft plant deal (January 24, 2005)

The Navajo Nation is being warned to move slowly on a $34 million deal to host an aircraft parts plant. The New Mexico Finance Authority and the state's Economic Development Department reviewed the tribe's deal with Utilicraft Aerospace Corp. The...

Top official wants Aboriginal culture in schools (January 24, 2005)

The governor-general of Australia is calling on al public schools to teach about Aboriginal culture. Major General Michael Jeffery said all citizens should learn more about Aboriginal culture and values. He said elders should be involved in developing a curriculum....

Indian lawmakers to play big role in education (January 24, 2005)

Montana's eight Indian lawmakers will play a prominent role this year in developing legislation to fund the state's Indian education mandate. The Indian caucus is made up of two lawmakers from the Senate and six from the House. They are...

Montana governor to decide on tribal riverbed suit (January 24, 2005)

New Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) is being asked to stay out of a legal dispute over the Northern Cheyenne Tribe's ownership of the Tongue River. Schweitzer visited the reservation on Friday. Eugene Little Coyote, president of the tribe, said...

Man linked to Indian gangs killed by officer (January 24, 2005)

A Minnesota man being linked to gang activity at an Indian housing complex in Minneapolis was fatally shot by a police officer early Saturday. Benjamin Gene Decoteau, 21, was killed after allegedly shooting a gun at an officer who returned...

Two more First Nations pass smoking resolutions (January 24, 2005)

Two more First Nations in Saskatchewan have passed their own resolutions to allow smoking in public places now that Canada has recognized their sovereignty. The White Bear First Nation was the first to have its smoking bylaw approved. Now the...

Inuits in Labrador sign land claim settlement (January 24, 2005)

The Labrador Inuit Association signed a $260 million (Canadian) land claim settlement on Saturday that included an official apology for a forced relocation 50 years ago. The deal gives the Inuits ownership of two per cent of Labrador's land mass....

Wyoming tribal hunting code viewed as success (January 24, 2005)

A hunting code established on the Wind River Reservation 20 years ago has led to massive growth in the game population. Studies showed that wildlife on the reservation was rapidly falling. So tribal leaders developed a code that ended year-round...

Lobbyist hired to overturn tribe's recognition (January 24, 2005)

Residents of a Connecticut town have hired a Republican lobbyist to overturn the federal recognition of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation. Town Action to Save Kent, known as TASK, hired Bradley Blakeman of the Barbour, Griffith & Rogers lobbying and law...

Bill would add $226M to tribal trust accounts (January 24, 2005)

Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-South Dakota) has introduced a bill to add $226 million to the trust accounts of two tribes. Herseth said the Crow Creek Tribe and the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe were not adequately compensated for losing valuable land,...

Jodi Rave: Deloria unknown because he's Indian (January 24, 2005)

"Vine Deloria Jr. could inspire me to hero worship, even though he once told me to get the hell out of his office. No matter. In the course of interviewing thousands of people, attending hundreds of lectures and reading as...

Trahant: Public school system not good enough (January 24, 2005)

"Read these three paragraphs: 'Good is the enemy of great. 'And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. 'We don't have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don't have...