Choctaw man wins election to Oklahoma House (July 26, 2006)

Al McAffrey, a member of the Choctaw Nation, was elected to the Oklahoma State House on Tuesday. McAffrey is a Navy veteran and former Oklahoma City police officer. He is the first openly gay member of the State Legislature....

New leader for Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (July 26, 2006)

Bobbi Quintavell has been appointed the new chief executive for Arctic Slope Regional Corp., an Alaska Native regional corporation. Quintavell, 44, is president of Arctic Slope Construction Holding Co., a subsidiary. She has served on the ASRC board since...

Suquamish Tribe breaks ground on youth center (July 26, 2006)

Youth of the Suquamish Tribe of Washington broke ground last week on an $2.3 million early learning center. The Marion Forsman-Bouschie Early Learning Center will promote education for Suquamish youth, ages infant to 12. The 11,800-square-foot facility will twice as...

Rep. Istook wins Oklahoma GOP primary for governor (July 26, 2006)

Rep. Ernest Istook (R-Oklahoma), a critic of tribal sovereignty and federal Indian policy, won the Republican party's nomination for Oklahoma on Tuesday. Istook has sponsored a number of bills that would force tribes to collect taxes. The most infamous...

Montana tribes take part in Lewis & Clark event (July 26, 2006)

Leaders of the Crow Tribe and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe took part in a Lewis and Clark event at Pompeys Pillar National Monument in Montana. Crow Chairman Carl Venne said the expedition "began the end of a way of...

DOJ won't investigate fatal shooting of Navajo man (July 26, 2006)

The Department of Justice said it has no grounds to investigate the fatal shooting of Navajo man by a police officer in Farmington, New Mexico. Clint John, 21, was shot to death on June 10 by an officer who responded...

AFN works to restore $5B funding commitment (July 26, 2006)

The Assembly of First Nations has received more backing in its bid to restore a $5 billion funding commitment from the Canadian government. The so-called Kelowna accord was developed before the last election. A new political party took office and...

Commentary: Environmental justice for Navajos (July 26, 2006)

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its draft of the clean air permit for the proposed Desert Rock Energy Project power plant on the Navajo Nation in San Juan County last week, and I couldn't help but wonder how this...

Arizona man charged for having eagle feathers (July 26, 2006)

An Arizona man who claims he is a member of the Yaqui Tribe has been charged for possession of eagle feathers and for possession of other protected birds. Rodney Coronado is not enrolled in the tribe. His lawyer said he...

Reward established in arson of sacred Karuk house (July 26, 2006)

A reward of up to $10,000 has been established for information leading to the person or persons responsible for a fire that destroyed a sacred Karuk dance house. Leaders of the Karuk Tribe have labeled the July 1 fire...

Woman behind racist Seminole cartoon resigns post (July 26, 2006)

A Davie, Florida, woman who was behind a racist cartoon of a Seminole Tribe leader has resigned her post on a town board. Karen Stenzel-Nowicki sent a letter to town officials announcing her departure. She gave no reason but she...

Tribal canoe journey continues in Washington (July 26, 2006)

Rough weather prompted some changes in the route for some participants of this year's InterTribal Canoe Journey. Many of the 16 canoes had to forgo part of the journey to the Lower Elwha Klallam Reservation. Only a crew from the...

Man proposes unique garbage plant on reservation (July 26, 2006)

A businessman originally from Austria wants to build a plant that can turn garbage into diesel fuel on the Puyallup Reservation in Washington. Michael Spitzauer, the CEO of Michael Spitzauer, says the plant will be environmentally friendly. But legal...

Enterprise Rancheria housing project under fire (July 26, 2006)

Leaders of the Enterprise Rancheria are vowing never to open a casino on land that will be used for a housing project. The tribe wants to develop 63 acres in the east Oroville foothills. Residents are worried that the...

Opinion: The never-ending Indian wars in New York (July 26, 2006)

"Locally, the map of Central and Western New York was drawn by racists who, after the American Revolution, sent the U.S. Army into Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) territory to annihilate native populations. Cayuga Lake, for example, is circled by historic markers denoting...

Study tracks high rate of diabetes in Pima youth (July 26, 2006)

A study being published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association tracks the development of diabetes among Pima youth in Arizona. Researchers at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases have monitored Pima youth since...

Report faults BIA in death of Chemawa student (July 26, 2006)

The report link at OIG is no longer working. You can find the report here: http://www.indianz.com/docs/oig/Chemawa1.pdf Bureau of Indian Affairs officials deserve to be punished for the death of Cindy Gilbert Sohappy, a 16-year-old student at Chemawa Indian School in...

House Resources Committee markup on tribal bills (July 26, 2006)

Update 9:30AM: Rep. Richard Pombo said the Cobell settlement bill will NOT be considered today. He is proceeding with the IGRA bill and the other items on the agenda. He expects debate on the IGRA bill to take a good...