Bush administration questions Cherokees on Freedmen (September 7, 2006)

The Bush administration is again questioning whether the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma excluded the Freedmen from participating in the tribe. In an August 30 letter, associate deputy Interior secretary Jim Cason said African-American descendants may have been wrongly denied a...

Excavation uncovers village at development site (September 7, 2006)

More than 8,800 artifacts have been discovered at the site of a big development project in Connecticut. An archaeological report says the village dates back 4,000 to 5,000 years. Some of the artifacts include tools made with stone not found...

Alaska Native village still recovering from fire (September 7, 2006)

Residents of the Alaska Native village of Hooper Bay are still recovering from a fire that devastated the community. The August 3 fire, blamed on kids, destroyed homes, the village elementary and high schools, a teacher housing complex and other...

Elders hear dangers of meth at Oklahoma conference (September 7, 2006)

Attendees of the 8th annual American Indian Elder Conference learned how to spot signs of methamphetamine trafficking. Mark Woodward, a state narcotics officer, explained the types of chemicals and products used to make meth. He said most meth labs busts...

Men face hate crimes charges for Navajo beating (September 7, 2006)

Three white males will face hate crimes charges for the beating of Navajo man in Farmington, New Mexico. The District Attorney's office filed motions to prosecute under the Hate Crimes Act on Wednesday. Conviction under the law carries additional penalties....

Opinion: Tribe in Brazilian rain forest under attack (September 7, 2006)

"A few weeks ago, I flew over the Amazon in a single-engine Cessna to a reunion with the leaders of the Kayapó nation, one of South America's proudest and most famous indigenous groups. For decades, about 7,000 Kayapó have defended...

Fast-growing fires burn on Yakama Reservation (September 7, 2006)

A fire on the Yakama Reservation in Washington has more than quadrupled in size over the past day. The 250-acre Polallie Fire is just one of three blazes on the reservation. All were caused by lightning. About 80 firefighters...

California's top court to hear tribal contribution case (September 7, 2006)

The California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that will determine whether tribes must comply with the state's campaign finance laws. The case arose when the Political Practices Commission, a state agency, sued two tribes. The commission...

Makah Nation gets some help amid water woes (September 7, 2006)

The Makah Nation of Washington will receive a water purification system from the U.S. Navy. The system will enable the tribe to recover from a water shortage. Less than two days of water are left in storage, prompting the tribe...

Virginia tribal recognition bill remains in limbo (September 7, 2006)

A bill to extend federal recognition to six Virginia tribes remains in limbo. The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held a hearing on the bill in June. But it was abruptly pulled from the agenda when it came time for the...

Passamaquoddy Tribe elects new slate of leaders (September 7, 2006)

The Passamaquoddy Tribe of Maine elected a new governor, lieutenant governor and three council members. Former governor Rick Doyle was elected to the tribe's top post again. He beat state Rep. Fred Moore by just 10 votes. For the lieutenant...

Hopi chairman suspended after alcohol incident (September 7, 2006)

Ivan Sidney, the chairman of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona, has been suspended as of today. The tribal council suspended Sidney after he refused to step down for an "embarrassing" incident off the reservation. Sidney admitted he drank some alcohol...

Tulalip Tribes back on track with HUD program (September 7, 2006)

The Tulalip Tribes of Washington now have full access to federal housing funds. The tribe's housing program was suspended after the Department of Housing and Urban Development found problems with the use of more than $12 million in federal funds....

KILI radio receives $46K grant from South Dakota (September 7, 2006)

KILI FM, the radio station on the Pine Ridge Reservation, has received a $46,000 grant from the state of South Dakota. The money will be used to help buy a new antenna, transmission line, transmitter and grounding system. In...

Recount changes results of Cheyenne River election (September 7, 2006)

A recount has changed the results of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe's recent primary election. Incumbent Harold Frazier still secured the most votes. But the recount showed Joseph Brings Plenty got more votes than Frank Thompson, who had appeared to...

Report of armed people at Navajo high school false (September 7, 2006)

A report of armed people at a high school on the Navajo Nation turned out to be based on miscommunication. The Ganado High School in Ganado, Arizona, was placed on lockdown on Wednesday. There were initial reports of a...