Republicans issue subpoena to attorneys in Cobell litigation (May 3, 2011)

The Republican majority on the House Natural Resources Committee issued subpoenas to two attorneys in the Indian trust fund lawsuit, an action that's drawing objections from the top Democrat on the panel. The subpoenas were sent to attorneys Keith Harper,...

Opinion: US slanders Geronimo's name with Osama mission (May 3, 2011)

"Earth to President Obama: The Apache Nation thinks you and the U.S. military are sorely in need of diversity training – and that’s putting it mildly. Tribal members are offended that the U.S. code name for Osama bin Laden was...

San Manuel Band grows its economy with development site (May 3, 2011)

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians of California continues to diversify its economy. The tribe operates a successful casino on its reservation. Beyond the reservation, the tribe is a partner in two hotels in Washington, D.C. and in Sacramento,...

Opinion: Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe cleaning up brownfields (May 3, 2011)

"For the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe the importance of the Brownfields work lies not in redevelopment of lands, but in human health. Not only have many of our tribal families called this area home for generations, but they rely on...

UA News: Project captures history of Arizona tribal libraries (May 3, 2011)

"The development, preservation and continued importance of tribal libraries has been largely left out of the mainstream lexicon. Intent on developing a stronger understanding of the role of such libraries, Sandy Littletree and Jamie A. Lee, both of the University...

Deadline approaching for Oneida Nation to appeal land claim (May 3, 2011)

The Oneida Nation of New York has until May 16 to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its land claim. The tribe has been given two extensions to file the petition, according to the docket sheet. It's not clear...

Cherokee Nation deals with heavy flooding after April storm (May 3, 2011)

The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma suffered heavy flooding after major thunderstorms last month. Most of the tribe's 14-county area was affected by the storm, with some parts seeing more than 13 inches of rain. Water levels in rivers, lakes and...

Alaska Native/Kiowa woman wins Miss Indian World contest (May 3, 2011)

Photo Miss Indian World / Facebook Marjorie Tahbone, an Inupiaq Eskimo and Kiowa woman from Alaska, won the Miss Indian World competition at the annual Gathering of Nations over the weekend. Tahbone, 22, didn't think she was going to...

Crews from Alaska Native village land three whales in week (May 3, 2011)

Photo Courtesy Kinneeveauk Family / Anchorage Daily News Whaling crews from the Alaska Native village of Point Hope landed three whales within a week's time, The Anchorage Daily News reports. Captain Herbert Kinneeveauk led a crew to capture a...

Turtle Talk: Supreme Court goes out of its way in Indian law (May 3, 2011)

"The SCOTUSblog commentary on the United States v. Tohono O’odham Nation decision — specifically the part where the commentator notes the Court’s “apparent disregard for minimalism” — provoked us to comment on judicial minimalism (or the lack thereof) in Indian...

Southern Ute man sentenced to 37 months for gun incident (May 3, 2011)

A member of the Southern Ute Tribe of Colorado was sentenced to 37 months after pleading guilty to an assault charge and a firearms charge. Henry Elkriver Whiteskunk, 21, admitted that he entered a home on the reservation with a...

Indian Democrats in Wisconsin challenging recall signatures (May 3, 2011)

Indian Democrats in Wisconsin are challenging more than 400 signatures on a petition to recall state Sen. Jim Holperin (D). The signatures were collected on the Menominee Nation, which is part of Hoperin's district. Democrats say Indian voters were misled...

Oklahoma to incorporate Indian culture in school curriculum (May 3, 2011)

Oklahoma Superintendent Janet Barresi plans to consult with tribes in order to incorporate Indian culture into the public school curriculum. Barresi believes tribal culture and history can be taught to students at all grade levels. "Oklahoma has a proud culture...

Cheyenne-Arapaho governor battles to maintain leadership (May 3, 2011)

The governor of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma is fighting to maintain her leadership position. Janet Boswell was elected in January 2010. But her running mate, Lt. Gov. Leslie Harjo, claims to be in power. The Bureau of...

Santa Ynez Band distributes $413K to local groups this year (May 3, 2011)

So far this year, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in California has donated $413,000 to local non-profits. "We thank you for all that you do,” Secretary-treasurer Kenneth Kahn told the audience, The Solvang Valley News reported. The tribe...

Student from Laguna Pueblo recognized for volunteer effort (May 3, 2011)

Kyle Swimmer, a student from Laguna Pueblo, was honored on Monday night at the 2011 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Swimmer, 18, was named the top high school youth volunteer in New Mexico. He received a $1,000 cash award...

Photographer aims to stir change on Pine Ridge Reservation (May 3, 2011)

Photographer Aaron Huey has spent the last six years documenting life on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and now he wants to raise awareness of conditions in Indian Country. Huey is raising money for a national billboard campaign....

DOI approves timber management project for Coquille Tribe (May 3, 2011)

The Coquille Tribe of Oregon won approval from the Interior Department for a pilot timber management project. The tribe will work with the Bureau of Land Management on the sale of timber from the federal forest land. The Coos Bay...

Witness list for Senate Indian Affairs hearing on stereotypes (May 3, 2011)

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee is holding a hearing this Thursday on racist stereotypes and their impact on indigenous people. The hearing takes place at 2:15pm in Room 628 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building and will be broadcast on...

Agua Caliente Band celebrates 100th anniversary of church (May 3, 2011)

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in California is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Tribal members welcomed Catholicism to the reservation a century ago. The original church, known as St. Florian’s Indian...

Tribes requested thousands of leftover FEMA mobile homes (May 3, 2011)

Housing is so scarce in Indian Country that when the Federal Emergency Management Agency made leftover mobile homes available to tribes, the requests far outpaced the supply. FEMA had 1,000 unused trailers after Hurricane Katrina. Tribes ended up requesting 5,500...