Cayuga Nation leadership dispute spills into court (February 15, 2005)

A federal court is being asked to step into the leadership dispute within the Cayuga Nation. The tribe is seeking a declaration that Clint Halftown has no authority. Halftown has come under fire for attempting to retract a land claim...

Judge blasts BIA for delays in recognition case (February 15, 2005)

A federal judge accused the Bureau of Indian Affairs on Monday of mismanaging the federal recognition process but said his options for bringing the agency in line were limited. At a lengthy hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S. District Judge James...

New Mexico Supreme Court takes on jurisdiction (February 15, 2005)

The New Mexico Supreme Court heard arguments on Monday in two cases testing the bounds of state, tribal and federal jurisdiction. At issue is whether private land within a Pueblo land grant is Indian Country. If yes, the tribes and...

Mississippi Choctaws launch advertising campaign (February 15, 2005)

The Mississippi Band of Choctaws is launching an adverting campaign to tell the tribe's story and dispel stereotypes. The tribe is a major economic player, owning a number of businesses and a successful casino. "The story of the Mississippi Choctaws...

Editorial: Fritz Scholder 'painted the Indian real' (February 15, 2005)

"Arizona has lost a great and ceaselessly inventive artist. Fritz Scholder, who died Thursday at age 67, was best known for his paintings. But he was equally gifted at sculpture, lithographs, photographs and books. Scholder hated labels. Yet any...

Data shows economic gains in Indian Country (February 15, 2005)

A recent Harvard University report shows economic gains on reservations throughout Indian Country. Based on U.S. Census data, the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development noted improvements from 1990 to 2000. Gains were made among gaming and non-gaming tribes....

Women's prison being turned over to First Nation (February 15, 2005)

The Canadian government is finalizing an agreement to turn over management of the Okimaw Ochi Healing Lodge to the Nekaneet First Nation. The 28-bed lodge for women holds minimum- and medium-security prisoners, most of whom are Native. It is a...

'Made in China' but produced by First Nations (February 15, 2005)

A Native-owned company in Manitoba is urging First Nations to consider manufacturing arts and crafts in China. First Nations Trading Development Corporation says Native designs can be mass-produced in China. CEO Leonard Linklater says other people are already doing it,...

Wisconsin tribes to deliver State of the Tribes (February 15, 2005)

The very first "State of the Tribes" in Wisconsin will be delivered March 8 at the State Assembly. Ray DePerry, chairman of the Red Cliff Tribe and president of the Great Lakes Inter-tribal Council, will give the speech. "This will...

Navajo Nation president proposes urban chapter (February 15, 2005)

Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. is proposing the creation of chapter to serve tribal members who live in Phoenix, Arizona, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Shirley called on the Navajo Nation Council to consider his plan. He said the Phoenix...

State won't restart work at historic Klallam village (February 15, 2005)

The state of Washington won't restart work at a drydock where a major village of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe was uncovered. State Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald spoke at a community meeting called to address the controversy. Some local officials...

Bills make tribal history a part of school curriculum (February 15, 2005)

A pair of bills making their way through the Washington Legislature would require public schools to teach about tribal history. Schools located on reservations or within a 100-mile radius would be required to include tribal history in their state history...

Fort Belknap president resigns, citing health problems (February 15, 2005)

The president of the Fort Belknap Indian Community in Montana resigned last week, citing health problems. Darrell Martin, a member of the Gros Ventre tribe, has assumed the post only a year ago. He had replaced Ben Speakthunder, a member...

Chumash tribe and county agree on trust land (February 15, 2005)

After years of acrimony, the Santa Ynez band of Chumash Indians and Santa Barbara County have come to an agreement on the tribe's land-into-trust request. The Bureau of Indian Affairs approved the tribe's acquisition of 6.5 acres. The county was...

Arizona tribe considers redeveloping airstrip (February 15, 2005)

The Gila River Indian Community of Arizona is considering redeveloping an old airstrip. A tribal spokesperson said plans for the Memorial Airstrip are years away. The strip could serve local businesses and residents. But neighbors of the reservation are concerned...

Developer accused of damaging tribal sites (February 15, 2005)

The state of Arizona has filed suit against a developer accused of destroying historic sites considered the home of the Tohono O'odham Nation. The state attorney general says Scottsdale developer George Johnson and his companies cleared 2,000 acres of land,...

Republicans to push Myers for appeals court again (February 15, 2005)

Senate Republicans are planning to push the nomination of former Interior solicitor Bill G. Myers for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Indian Country fought Myers for actions he took as the Interior Department's top lawyer. Without consulting the Quechan...

Tim Giago: Committing slow suicide with foods (February 15, 2005)

"As the saying goes, 'We are what we eat.' This becomes immediately apparent to anyone who is diabetic and who monitors his or her blood sugar on a daily basis. If one sets aside common sense and indulges in a...

Attorney calls on state to repeal Public Law 280 (February 15, 2005)

Indian attorney Paul Echohawk says the state of Idaho should give up its jurisdiction over the Fort Hall Reservation. Under Public Law 280, the state shares concurrent jurisdiction with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. Echohawk says this arrangement hinders law enforcement on...