DOI trust reform meeting set for Portland, Oregon (March 24, 2006)

The Interior Department is holding a meeting next week in Portland, Oregon, to solicit input on a proposal overhaul of its Indian trust regulations. The proposal would affect more than 600 pages of existing regulations. Nearly every issue, from leases...

Lobbying reform amendments target tribes (March 24, 2006)

Although Washington's push for lobbying reform has weakened in recent weeks, tribes and Alaska Native corporations face new requirements under amendments being considered in the Senate. In the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal, members of both political parties vowed...

Tribal-Related Amendments to Lobbying Reform Bill (March 24, 2006)

The following are the text of three tribal-related amendments to S.2349, the lobbying reform bill being considered in the Senate. SA 2908. Mr. VITTER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2349, to provide...

Family, fellow soldiers pay tribute to Lori Piestewa (March 24, 2006)

The family of Lori Piestewa, the Hopi woman killed in action in Iraq, was joined by four of Piestewa's fellow soldiers at a memorial service on Thursday morning. The ceremony was held on the anniversary of the March 23, 2003,...

UND faculty asks school to retire 'Fighting Sioux' (March 24, 2006)

More than 120 University of North Dakota faculty members signed a letter calling on the school to get rid of its "Fighting Sioux" nickname and logo. The faculty said the controversial name has damaged UND's reputation and its relationship with...

Native youth use theater to share traditions (March 24, 2006)

Native students in Billings, Montana, are using theater to share their traditions and culture. The Native American Youth Theater Group features a cast of 24 Native students, who range in age from 9 to 15. They put together a...

Oglala Sioux Tribe still lacks money for police force (March 24, 2006)

The Oglala Sioux Tribe says it will have to fire 28 police officers due to cuts in the Community Orientated Policing Services (COPS) program. The tribe was awarded a $4.5 million grant in 2003. The money enabled the tribe to...

Herseth, Miller visit South Dakota reservations (March 24, 2006)

Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-South Dakota) and Rep. George Miller (D-California) visited two South Dakota reservations on Thursday to learn more about Indian education. Herseth brought Miller, the senior Democrat on the House Education Committee, to the Pine Ridge Reservation and...

Former Caddo Nation employee indicted for theft (March 24, 2006)

A former employee of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma has been indicted for allegedly stealing more than $75,000 from the tribe. Elizabeth Ann Hernandez, 44, was the tribe's procurement officer between December 2003 and July 2004. She is accused of...

Eva Rehner, oldest member of Pala Band, dies at 95 (March 24, 2006)

Eva Linton Rehner, the oldest member of the Pala Band of Mission Indians of California, died March 16 of natural causes. She was 95. Rehner took the state of California to court over her refusal to apply for a liquor...

Police uncover site where Native girl was buried (March 24, 2006)

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police uncovered a site on the Fisher River First Nation in Manitoba where they believe a five-year-old girl was buried. The RCMP didn't find the remains of Phoenix Sinclair at the site because they say...

Indian group ends free-trade protests in Ecuador (March 24, 2006)

Ecuador's most prominent Indian organization ended 11 days of protests against a free trade deal with the United States. The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador organized blockades of major highways throughout the nation. The protest crippled traffic and...

Paper examines Indian race relations, civil rights (March 24, 2006)

The Farmington Daily Times continues its five-part series on Indian race relations and civil rights issues in Farmington, New Mexico. The March 23 installment looks at education in the Central Consolidated School District, a public school district. According to statistics,...

Company brings phone service to Navajo Nation (March 24, 2006)

A New Mexico company is a step closer to bringing telephone service to the Navajo Nation. Sacred Wind Communications won approval from the state Public Regulation Commission as an eligible telecommunications carrier. The company now needs approval from the Federal...

Dorgan holds listening session on Indian education (March 24, 2006)

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota), the vice chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, held a listening session on Indian education at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Dorgan heard from tribal leaders, teachers and students. He said he would work...

BIA asked for map of Osage Reservation boundaries (March 24, 2006)

A non-Indian rancher says the Bureau of Indian Affairs hasn't responded to his request for a map that details the boundaries of the Osage Reservation in northeastern Oklahoma. Dick Surber and other ranchers are concerned about the reservation boundaries in...

Dancers, drummers ready for Denver March Powwow (March 24, 2006)

The 32nd annual Denver March Powwow, one of the largest powwows in the nation, kicks off today at the Denver Coliseum. The powwow was started three decades ago in order to keep urban Natives in touch with their culture. It...

Red Lake Nation prepares to open lake for fishing (March 24, 2006)

The Red Lake Nation in northern Minnesota is opening Red Lake for walleye fishing for the first time since the late 1990s. The fishing season is the result of the tribe's conservation efforts. The walleye population has been restored after...

Kootenai Tribe raising endangered sturgeon (March 24, 2006)

A hatchery run by the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho is raising endangered white sturgeon. With only 500 sturgeon left in the wild, the tribe is trying to revive the endangered fish. Dams on the Kootenai River have prevented sturgeon...

Fire Thunder creates stir with abortion law comments (March 24, 2006)

Cecilia Fire Thunder, the president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, has created a buzz among pro-choice groups for her comments on the state of South Dakota's extremely restrictive abortion law. Fire Thunder told columnist Tim Giago that the state...

Abramoff called to testify in Florida murder case (March 24, 2006)

Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and a former business partner are being subpoenaed to testify in a Florida murder case. Abramoff and former partner Adam Kidan bought the SunCruz fleet of casino boats from Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis. Shortly after the deal...

Former White House official set for court hearing (March 24, 2006)

David Safavian, a former White House official who used to work with Jack Abramoff, has a hearing in federal court in Washington, D.C,. this afternoon. Safavian used to work at the White House Office of Management and budget. Before...