Mohawk man pleads guilty to being a felon in possession (April 5, 2011)

A member of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe of New York has pleaded guilty to being a possession of firearms. Victor J. Lazore, 25, was convicted of a felony drug crime in New York state in 2005. As a result,...

Court rebuffs Cherokee Nation in Indian Child Welfare Act ruling (April 5, 2011)

A newborn child who was granted "temporary" citizenship in the Cherokee Nation does not fall under the Indian Child Welfare Act, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today. The mother of the child was not enrolled in the tribe...

Turtle Talk: Sovereign immunity and independent tribal judiciary (April 5, 2011)

"There are two active cases out there involving Florida tribes that raise interesting questions relating to tribal courts and tribal immunity in federal and state courts. The two cases, Miccosukee Tribe v. Kraus-Anderson Constr. (which is currently pending before the...

Audio from House hearing on bill to restrict Cobell attorney fees (April 5, 2011)

The House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs held a hearing this morning on H.R.887, a bill to limit attorney fees in the Indian trust fund lawsuit to $50 million. The hearing lasted about 1.3 hours. Audio files, along...

Senate Indian Affairs Committee to consider two bills at meeting (April 5, 2011)

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee will hold a business meeting tomorrow to consider two bills. The committee will consider S.675, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act. The bill extends the policy of self-determination to Native Hawaiians. The committee also will...

Witness list for Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on 8(a) (April 5, 2011)

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee will hold a hearing tomorrow to discuss the 8(a) program at the Small Business Administration. The hearing is titled "Promise Fulfilled: The Role of the SBA 8(a) Program in Enhancing Economic Development in Indian Country."...

Navajo Nation creates new wireless provider on the reservation (April 5, 2011)

The Navajo Nation has formed a company to provide wireless service on the reservation. The tribe purchased a majority ownership of a Commnet Wireless subsidiary. The new company, NTUA Wireless, will upgrade telecommunication services in the next couple of years....

Nisqually Tribe starts construction on $20M public safety center (April 5, 2011)

The Nisqually Tribe of Washington is starting work on a $20 million public safety complex, The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce reports. The facility will include space for 288 inmates. Future expansions could provide space for up to 576 inmates....

Rep. Young threatens subpoenas over bill on Cobell attorney fees (April 5, 2011)

Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs, threatened to issue subpoenas today after the Obama administration and the plaintiffs in the Indian trust fund lawsuit refused to testify at a hearing...

Employee charged with theft of nearly $400K from Tulalip store (April 5, 2011)

A member of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington has been charged for stealing nearly $400,000 from the tribal liquor store and smoke shop. According to federal prosecutors, Angela Jones Ver Hoeven, 46, failed to register multicarton sales of cigarettes. She...

Omaha Tribe enters in consent decree with EPA to resolve issues (April 5, 2011)

The Omaha Tribe and the Environmental Protection Agency have entered into a consent decree to address health and safety issues on the reservation. The tribe has agreed to renovate its water treatment plant and water mains, fix wastewater lagoons and...

Editorial: Move of Little Bighorn artifacts serves as wake-up call (April 5, 2011)

'We knew that the news was coming, yet we still winced when it was confirmed last week that the archives and museum collection of the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument were heading to Arizona. Kate Hammond, battlefield superintendent, said the...

New Mexico to name Native squash blossom as official necklace (April 5, 2011)

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) signed into law a bill that designates the squash blossom as the official state necklace. The squash blossom necklace is common among artists from the Navajo Nation and Zuni Pueblo. The design, which...

BIA generates $380K through sale of horses on Crow Reservation (April 5, 2011)

The Bureau of Indian Affairs took in $380,365 from the sale of 804 horses on the Crow Reservation in Montana. The BIA rounded up the animals from Jim Leachman, a non-Indian rancher who has been charged with animal cruelty. Revenues...

Saginaw Chippewa Tribe breaks ground on water park and hotel (April 5, 2011)

The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan broke ground on the Soaring Eagle Water Park and Hotel on Monday. The facility will feature a 45,000-square-foot water park, the largest in the state, a 243-room hotel, a restaurant and meeting space. Construction...

Blood Tribe announces partnership for oil and gas development (April 5, 2011)

The Blood Tribe of Alberta has formed an energy company to take advantage of oil and gas development on the reserve. Kainai Energy, the new company, will work with Native American Resource Partners, to take advantage of two development agreements...

Great Plains tribes pass resolution against use of Indian mascots (April 5, 2011)

The Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association passed a resolution last month that opposes the use of Indians as mascots. The vote was 11-0. Five tribes weren't present for the meeting. “The use of American Indians for school nicknames, logos and...