Earth 911: Skiing on reclaimed wastewater -- gross or green? (August 30, 2011)

"One of the most significant factors influencing a ski resort’s environmental impact is the use of man-made snow. An Arizona resort is trying out a somewhat unconventional method to reduce their use of fresh water for snowmaking – paving their...

The Grio: Cherokee Nation trying to get rid of African heritage (August 30, 2011)

"When most Americans are reminded of the "Trail of Tears," the forced migration of Native Americans from their ancient homelands to what is now the state of Oklahoma, they conjure up images of thousands of downtrodden, defeated Cherokee suffering and...

Memorial pole to be dedicated in honor of Native woodcarver (August 30, 2011)

A memorial totem pole is being dedicated today in honor of John T. Williams, a traditional woodcarver who was shot to death by a police officer in Seattle, Washington, on August 30, 2010. The pole was carved by one of...

Editorial: Share views on TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline (August 30, 2011)

"The appropriately deliberate approval process for the Keystone XL pipeline took another big step last week when the State Department said the project is not likely to cause significant environmental problems. The environmental impact statement, a thousand-page report almost three...

10th Circuit won't stop review of coal mining on Navajo Nation (August 30, 2011)

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals won't stop the federal government from conducting an environmental analysis of an expanded coal mine operation on the Navajo Nation. A federal judge ruled that the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement violated...

Freedmen eye lawsuit in federal court over Cherokee election (August 30, 2011)

Freedmen descendants plan to go to federal court in order to preserve their voting rights in the upcoming Cherokee Nation election for chief. The tribe's Supreme Court ruled that the Freedmen aren't entitled to citizenship, meaning they can't vote in...

Law Article: Court in Ontario addresses treaty rights provision (August 30, 2011)

"In its recent decision in Keewatin v. Minister of Natural Resources ("Keewatin"), the Ontario Superior Court of Justice held that the Province of Ontario does not have the authority under either Treaty 3 (described below) or the Constitution Act, 1867...

Turtle Talk: Supreme Court pays attention to non-tribal briefs (August 30, 2011)

"Frank Pommersheim’s wonderful paper on the amicus brief strategies in Plains Commerce Bank in the South Dakota Law Review is a starting off point for this (yet another) quick study of Supreme Court adjudication, as is the recent short paper...

Cobell trust beneficiaries in Utah urged to watch out for scams (August 30, 2011)

The Utah Division of Securities is warning Indian beneficiaries to watch out for scams as they receive a share of the $3.4 billion settlement to the Cobell trust fund lawsuit. The settlement has been well publicized. So the state is...

City tries to annex land owned by Ak-Chin Indian Community (August 30, 2011)

The city of Maricopa, Arizona, is trying to annex land owned by the Ak-Chin Indian Community. The tribe started the land-into-trust process for about 1,000 acres earlier this year. But the city's annexation request could delay action on the applications....

IHS warns of poor conditions at trailer park on Yakama Nation (August 30, 2011)

The Indian Health Service says homes at a trailer park on the Yakama Nation in Washington are unsanitary but residents say no one is taking action to correct the deficiencies. Tim Jewett, who is not a tribal member, owns the...

Eastern Cherokees lobby for rules to allow gathering at parks (August 30, 2011)

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina is lobbying the Obama administration to allow tribes to gather plants in national parks. Chief Michell Hicks met with National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis in Washington, D.C., to push for...

Chumash Tribe describes plans for housing on 1400-acre site (August 30, 2011)

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in California plan to build 143 single-family houses on a 1,400-acre property. The tribe purchased the land in 2010. The tribe hopes to have it placed in trust, either through an act...