Lumbees clash with Cherokee at Senate hearing (July 13, 2006)

The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina made yet another plea for federal recognition on Wednesday but faced opposition from the powerful Cherokee lobby. After more than a century of petitioning for full status, the Lumbees are in legal limbo due...

Mormons placed 20,000 Indians in foster homes (July 13, 2006)

A new novel explores the history of a little known Mormon Church program that placed 20,000 Indian children, mostly Navajos, in temporary foster homes. The Indian Placement Program was part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...

Alaska Native community votes to open liquor store (July 13, 2006)

Residents of the Alaska Native community of Nulato voted overwhelmingly to open an official liquor store. Mayor Glenn Demoski said the city is already overrun with liquor. A store won't increase drinking but at least it will generate much-needed revenues,...

Chickasaw Nation makes deal with Chinese automaker (July 13, 2006)

The Chickasaw Nation and a Chinese automaker are going into business together. The tribe is buying land in Ardmore to lease to Nanjing Motors. The company will build a manufacturing plant to revive the British sports car brand MG. The...

Border town racism an issue again in Farmington (July 13, 2006)

Decades-old racial harassment came boiling to the surface with two recent incidents in Farmington, New Mexico. The first was the beating of a Navajo man by three white males. The second was the shooting of a Navajo man by a...

Martha Berryhill, original Creek allottee, turns 106 (July 13, 2006)

Martha Berryhill, one of the two remaining original Creek allottees, celebrated her 106th birthday on Wednesday. Berryhill was born on July 12, 1900. She was only 18 months old when she was placed on the Dawes Rolls and allotted...

Red Lake Nation seizes man's boat, fishing gear (July 13, 2006)

A non-Indian man is upset after the Red Lake Nation of Minnesota seized his boat and fishing gear. Jerry Mueller says he inadvertently went fishing on a part of Upper Red Lake that falls under tribal control. Along with his...

Disenrollment an issue in Pechanga Band election (July 13, 2006)

An enrollment dispute has become an issue as the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians holds its election. John Gomez Jr., whose family of about 130 people was removed from the tribe, is leading a protest on Saturday, the day of...

Editorial: A good opportunity for Navajo Head Start (July 13, 2006)

"Sometimes, something positive really can come out of a difficult situation. We believe the recent troubles at Navajo Head Start could prove to be such a situation. Federal funding for the Nation's Head Start program was suspended May 2 by...

Navajo Nation takes BIA out of leasing process (July 13, 2006)

The Navajo Nation and the Interior Department signed an agreement on Tuesday to take the federal government out of the leasing process. The tribe will be able to sign business leases without going through the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Navajo...

Library of Congress to publish Zuni language works (July 13, 2006)

The Library of Congress will be publishing a collection of materials that have been used to preserve and pass on the Zuni language. The collection is the work of linguist Curtis Cook. He worked with the Zuni Tribe of New...

Eastern Shawnee Tribe drops Ohio from land claim (July 13, 2006)

The Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma dropped the state of Ohio as a defendant in its land claim lawsuit. The tribe sued in May 2005, naming the state and numerous counties and municipalities as defendants. The lawsuit asserted hunting, fishing...

Canada's top leader vows end to race-based fisheries (July 13, 2006)

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is coming under fire for vowing to end "racially divided" fisheries. In a letter published last week in The Calgary Herald, Harper said he would call an inquiry into the fishery on the Fraser River...

Eastern Cherokees work to preserve language (July 13, 2006)

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is working with Western Carolina University to keep the Cherokee language alive. A recent survey showed that 72 percent of fluent Cherokee were more than 50 years old. “Since January of 2005 to this...

Mississippi Choctaws kick off 57th annual fair (July 13, 2006)

The 57th annual Choctaw Indian Fair kicked off Wednesday on the Mississippi Choctaw Reservation. Thousands of tribal members come home for the annual event. It features a pageant, a stickball tournament, musical performances and an arts and crafts showcase. The...

Assembly of First Nations re-elects Fontaine (July 13, 2006)

Phil Fontaine easily won re-election as chief of the Assembly of First Nations on Wednesday. Fontaine won almost 76 percent of the vote after just one round of balloting. Challenger Bill Wilson had 23 percent. Fontaine said he would...

Editorial: Chehalis Tribe helps diversify economy (July 13, 2006)

"The resort planned along Interstate 5 at Grand Mound by the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation will be inside Thurston County, but should also benefit the economy in Lewis County. The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs last week approved...

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe goes after Team Abramoff (July 13, 2006)

The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas filed suit against Team Abramoff on Wednesday, accusing the disgraced lobbyist and his partners, including conservative Christian activist Ralph Reed, of deceit. The lawsuit alleges Abramoff, his associates and Reed failed to report their...

Virginia tribes make historic trip to England (July 13, 2006)

Members and leaders of Virginia's eight state-recognized tribes held a going away ceremony at the National Museum of the American Indian on Wednesday. The 60-member delegation is headed to England for a week of cultural demonstrations, discussions and ceremonies...