Secretary Norton to step down at end of March (March 10, 2006)

Interior Secretary Gale Norton has announced her resignation after five years with the Bush administration. Norton joined the Cabinet in January 2001. She was confirmed with the least number of votes ever for an Interior secretary. Norton, a former attorney...

Opinion: Tribes must use own people for lobbying (March 10, 2006)

"Jack Abramoff's indecent and illicit lobbying affair has received ample - if long-overdue - attention in the news. And while Abramoff's nefarious, if not unprecedented, activities threaten to ensnare several national (both tribal and federal) lawmakers and may lead to...

McCain's agenda not always in sync with Indian Country (March 10, 2006)

Indianz.Com Listening Lounge Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on Indian Gaming Regulatory Act Amendments, March 8, 2006. • Webcast | Testimony • Intro - 6:06 - 1.4MB Panel 1• Panel I - 13:35 - 3.1MB | • Q&A - 10:16...

California appeals court rules in ICWA transfer case (March 10, 2006)

The California Court of Appeal for the 3rd District issued a ruling in an Indian Child Welfare Act case on Thursday. The dispute centered over the Karuk Tribe's request to transfer a child welfare case to its court. Siskiyou County...

BIA accused of conflict for staying at Oneida hotel (March 10, 2006)

Some local officials in upstate New York are questioning the Bureau of Indian Affairs after officials stayed at the Oneida Nation's hotel for a recent hearing into the tribe's land-into-trust request. The Syracuse Post-Standard said BIA officials stayed two nights...

Cheyenne man on trial for killing sister's husband (March 10, 2006)

A Northern Cheyenne man is on trial in Billings, Montana, for allegedly murdering his sister's husband in a fight on the street. Joel White, 47, is charged with deliberate homicide for the death of 53-year-old Gary Temple last June. Temple...

Interview with Wes Studi, Cherokee actor (March 10, 2006)

The Lawrence Journal-World interviews Wes Studi, a member of the Cherokee Nation who has appeared in a number of films, including "The New World," "Heat," and "The Last of the Mohicans." Studi, 52, is headed to Haskell Indian Nations...

Province to investigate safe house for Native teens (March 10, 2006)

The children's advocate in Saskatchewan has agreed to investigate the Oyate Safe House over allegations that Native teens weren't being supervised properly. The safe house is located in Regina. It is run by the File Hills-Qu'appelle Tribal Council, which represents...

Editorial: Victory long overdue for Cherokee Freedmen (March 10, 2006)

"The highest court in the Cherokee Nation, the Judicial Appeals Tribunal, made a landmark decision Tuesday, ruling that Cherokee freedmen have the same rights as other members of the tribe. For more than 20 years, freedmen have been denied the...

Agreement signed for Morro Rock ceremonies (March 10, 2006)

The California Parks Department signed an agreement to ensure Native Americans can perform ceremonies at Morro Rock. The rock is sacred to the Chumash and Salinan people. But tribal members weren't being allowed to practice their religion. After six...

Pokanoket Tribe asks Rhode Island for recognition (March 10, 2006)

The Pokanoket Tribe is seeking to be the first tribe in Rhode Island to gain state recognition. The tribe is the subject of a bill that would recognize its relationship with the state. A hearing was held on Tuesday, where...

Red Lake chairman won't join local drug task forces (March 10, 2006)

Trafficking in methamphetamine and cocaine has hurt the Red Lake Nation, says Chairman Floyd Jourdain Jr., but he won't let the tribe join local drug task forces out of concerns for sovereignty. Jourdain says the federal government has a...

Tulalip Tribes assert jurisdiction over beach properties (March 10, 2006)

The Tulalip Tribes of Washington asserted authority over beachfront properties on the reservation, adopting the first tidelands management policy in tribal history. The policy seeks to protect the tidelands from further damage to sacred sites, fishing grounds and other...

South Dakota to improve roads on reservation (March 10, 2006)

The South Dakota Department of Transportation has started two road improvement projects on the Pine Ridge Reservation, The Rapid City Journal reports. The state is replacing a bridge at a cost of a more than $2.5 million. The project is...

Cochiti Pueblo interested in equipment at old base (March 10, 2006)

Cochiti Pueblo, a tribe in north-central New Mexico, is interesting in acquiring equipment and supplies at a naval base in Texas that is being decommissioned. The tribe responded to a Notice of Availability issued by the U.S. Navy last month....

Oglala Sioux Tribe swears in new chief judge (March 10, 2006)

The Oglala Sioux Tribe sworn in Lisa Adams as the chief judge of its tribal court on March 1. Adams is married to a tribal member. She previously worked as senior attorney for the Yurok Tribe in northern California. Prior...

Rep. DeLay likes Abramoff interview in Vanity Fair (March 10, 2006)

The April 2006 Vanity Fair story about disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff is pleasing Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and his legal team. In the article, Abramoff said he "didn't spend a lot of time lobbying Tom for things, because the things...

Abramoff pimped his ride with $48K in custom work (March 10, 2006)

Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff loaded his 2002 BMW 745Li with more than $48,000 worth of custom work, The New York Times reports. Thanks to high fees paid by tribes and other clients, Abramoff's pimped-out ride included these goodies: •...

Ex-Kickapoo officials suggest Abramoff behind ouster (March 10, 2006)

The former chief of the Kickapoo Tribe of Texas and his non-Indian associate are insinuating that Jack Abramoff helped orchestrate their ouster. Raul Garza, the former chief and Isidro Garza, a non-Indian who is no relation, were kicked out...