'Double whammy' dealt to siblings seeking enrollment (September 14, 2005)

The federal government can't force tribes to make decisions on enrollment matters even if the process seems unfair, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday. In a short opinion, a three-judge panel of the court expressed some sympathy...

Senate delays action on ANWR drilling in budget (September 14, 2005)

The Senate has delayed action on a budget resolution that could open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to development but supporters say they expect it to win approval. The resolution was supposed to be finished this week but Hurricane Katrina...

Stevens continues to press Alaska Native funding (September 14, 2005)

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) won't give up his fight to streamline funding for Alaska Natives despite a General Accountability Office report indicating that tribes and villages are using funds efficiently. Stevens has sought to consolidate tribal and village funding into...

Yellow Bird: Clearing the air on the 'Sioux' name (September 14, 2005)

"I hesitated to wade into the debate about the NCAA's recent ruling regarding UND's logo. I hesitated because so much already has been said so many times over - whew. Yet, there is a need to clarify why the names...

Editorial: Save Nez Perce burial site from desecration (September 14, 2005)

"Long before Old Chief Joseph died in 1871, he extracted a promise from his sons that they would never sell the Wallowa Valley. "You must stop your ears whenever you are asked to sign a treaty selling your home," the...

Appeals court upholds legality of land-into-trust process (September 14, 2005)

For the second time in a year, a federal appeals court on Tuesday soundly rejected a state's challenge to the legality of the land-into-trust process. In a closely-watched case, the state of Rhode Island tried to invalidate the Interior Department's...

Ross Swimmer: Cobell suit not about mismanagement (September 14, 2005)

"In a recent editorial in your newspaper, Cobell v. Norton litigation spokesman Bill McAllister says that reporters are not asking the Department of the Interior enough questions. I agree. There are many misconceptions about the litigation, the current state of...

Prison sentence sought for faking tribal documents (September 14, 2005)

Federal prosecutors and the Interior Department's Inspector General are urging a prison sentence for a man who fake documents as part of bid to gain federal recognition. Ronald Roberts, 57, admitted to fraud and perjury. He claimed he was the...

Tribal IDs to be accepted at polls in Minnesota (September 14, 2005)

Tribal members in Minnesota can now use their tribal identification cards to register to vote on election days, The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The state was imposing limits on the use of tribal IDs at the polls. Tribal members weren't...

D-Q University set to reopen for fall semester (September 14, 2005)

D-Q University, the only tribal college in California, is set to open for classes on September 19. The school underwent turmoil this past spring, having lost its accreditation. The Bureau of Indian Affairs cut funding due to declining Indian student...

Grand Ronde Tribes elect new council members (September 14, 2005)

Members of the Grand Ronde Tribes of Oregon elected two new council members and re-elected one incumbent on Saturday. The election of the two new members gives a group called PPP, or positive people prevail, a 5-4 majority on the...

Osage Nation asks for input on new constitution (September 14, 2005)

The Osage Nation of Oklahoma is asking members to consider how they want their tribe's new form of government to look. The tribe's government and membership were limited by an act of Congress from 1906. Not every Osage had a...

Employee use of tribal vehicles comes under scrutiny (September 14, 2005)

The Navajo Nation is considering a request to bar employees from driving tribal vehicles to and from work, a spokesperson for President Joe Shirley Jr. said. The tribe allows employees to take the vehicles home for security concerns. The spokesperson...

Navajo chapter gets USDA grant for new house (September 14, 2005)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded a $250,000 grant to the Upper Fruitland, New Mexico, chapter of the Navajo Nation for a new chapter house. The money will fund a three-phase project to replace the old chapter house, which was...

Editorial: Boys & Girls Club needs to reopen (September 14, 2005)

"We applaud the decision of the Navajo Nation Department of Youth and chapter officials for taking steps that, hopefully, will lead to the reopening of the Shiprock Boys and Girls Club. The club has been closed since December of last...

Eastern Cherokees reach out to victims of Katrina (September 14, 2005)

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina is helping victims of Hurricane Katrina. The tribe donated $7,500 to Hearts With Hands, a local organization helping with disaster relief. Harrah's Entertainment, the company that manages the tribe's casino, kicked...

Tribe urged to consider coalbed methane development (September 14, 2005)

A new group called the Association for the Advancement of Indigenous Resources is urging members of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana to consider coalbed methane development. Terry Beartusk, the group's director, said there are misconceptions about CBM development. He...

Northern Cheyenne president calls for greatness (September 14, 2005)

Eugene Little Coyote, the president of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana, called on tribal members to "return to greatness" and defeat poverty, substance abuse and other problems. Little Coyote spoke on the opening day of a tribal economic summit....

Catawba Nation linked to election fraud probe (September 14, 2005)

The Department of Justice is investigating possible federal election fraud involving businesses linked to the Catawba Nation of South Carolina, The State reports. The paper said the FBI recently searched the offices of three businesses. One of the companies manages...