Steve Russell: The circus that has become the Cherokee Nation (September 15, 2011)

"When does a tribal supreme court decision affect all of Indian County? Not often enough, in the sense that the mechanisms of tribal law application beside but not within the state and federal systems are a work in progress with...

Red Lake Nation man charged with domestic assault of woman (September 15, 2011)

A man from the Red Lake Nation in Minnesota has been indicted for domestic assault of a woman. Jamie Allan Greene, Sr., 38, is accused of grabbing the woman by her hair, throwing her against a wall and then stomping...

Charges laid for murder of 15-year-old Native boy in Manitoba (September 15, 2011)

Charges have been laid in connection with the stabbing death of a 15-year-old Native boy in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Clark Stevenson was stabbed several times in the chest and lungs early Saturday morning. Authorities say he was affiliated with a...

Water users in New Mexico sue over Navajo Nation settlement (September 15, 2011)

The San Juan Agricultural Water Users Association has sued the New Mexico State Engineer over a settlement with the Navajo Nation. The group claims the state hasn't provided documents it requested from Engineer John D'Antonio. The group wants emails, cellphone...

Citizen Potawatomi Nation developing 400-acre industrial park (September 15, 2011)

The Citizen Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma is developing a 400-acre industrial park. In order to attract business to the facility, the tribe is working with A-OK Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad to repair a rail line. The projected cost is...

United Auburn Indian Community offers to take over cemetery (September 15, 2011)

The United Auburn Indian Community has offered to take over an Indian cemetery in northern California. The tribe wants to acquire the Colfax Indian Cemetery. The offer includes money for "upkeep, utility costs, liability insurance, and various operational needs for...

House subcommittee holds hearing on Quileute Tribe land bill (September 15, 2011)

The House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands held a hearing this morning on H.R.1162, a bill that allows the Quileute Tribe of Washington to move out of a tsunami zone. The bill transfers 785 acres within Olympic...

Native Sun News: Sioux activist arrested at White House protest (September 15, 2011)

The following story was written and reported by Talli Nauman. All content © Native Sun News. WASHINGTON, DC – At an Indigenous Day of Action on Sept. 2, during White House protests, Oglala Lakota grassroots leader Debra White Plume spoke...

MPBN: Penobscot Nation upset about state inspection of buses (September 15, 2011)

"For members of the Penobscot Indian Nation, few provisions of the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 are as sacred as the sections of the document that acknowledge the tribe's inherent sovereignty as a nation within a nation. So...

Editorial: Cherokee Nation faces pressure on fate of Freedmen (September 15, 2011)

"It should come as no surprise that the federal government is trying to influence the Cherokee Nation into accepting the freedmen as full tribal citizens. Freedmen, descendants of Cherokee slaves, were granted full rights of blood Cherokees under an 1866...

Justice Department awards $118.4M in Indian Country grants (September 15, 2011)

The Department of Justice announced $118.4 million in grants to tribal governments. The money was awarded through the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation program. Tribes are able to submit a single application for most grants at DOJ rather than deal with...

Opinion: Removal of Elwha River dams aids salmon restoration (September 15, 2011)

"Removal of the two dormant Elwha River dams on the Olympic Peninsula will unleash a powerful, free-flowing river and once again open the entire watershed to the salmon runs that have been knocking at the base of the dams for...

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe praises start of dam breaching work (September 15, 2011)

The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe of Washington is welcoming the start of dam removal work on the Elwha River. Demolition began yesterday on the 210-foot-tall Glines Canyon Dam. Work on the 108-foot-tall Elwha Dam will begin later this month, The...

Leonard Forsman: Marriage law shows Suquamish tribal values (September 15, 2011)

"Last month, the Suquamish Tribal Council amended its existing Marriage and Divorce Ordinance to permit marriages regardless of the couple's gender. The amendment passed by a unanimous vote of the council and allows same-sex couples to receive the same treatment...

Cherokee Nation to allow Freedmen to cast provisional ballots (September 15, 2011)

The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma says Freedmen descendants can cast provisional ballots in the September 24 election for principal chief. The Freedmen are the descendants of former slaves held within the tribe. They are entitled to citizenship under an 1866...

Richard Gomez: Face the facts on Chumash Tribe's land plans (September 15, 2011)

"At the anti-tribal town hall meeting a few weeks ago, tribal opponent groups presented a variety of scenarios designed to incite panic. The problem? Their information was based on fantasy, not reality. Please come to our public meeting tomorrow night,...

BIA tells Robinson Rancheria chairwoman to hold new election (September 15, 2011)

Tracey Isabelle Avila, the chairwoman of the Robinson Rancheria Pomo Indians of California, is facing trouble on numerous fronts. Avila has been charged in state court with one count of felony grand theft. She is accused of stealing more than...

Obama nominates Brad Carson, Cherokee, to Army legal post (September 15, 2011)

President Barack Obama has nominated Brad Carson, a member of the Cherokee Nation, as General Counsel of the Army. Carson served in Congress from 2001 until 2005. His district included the Cherokee Nation and a large percentage of Native Americans....

Cobell settlement payments face delay despite speedy appeal (September 15, 2011)

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has agreed to expedite challenges to the $3.4 billion settlement to the Indian trust fund lawsuit. But it still could be months before payments are distributed. The court might hear the case as early...

White House Blog: Supporting law and order in Indian Country (September 15, 2011)

"In line with Attorney General Holder’s commitment to enhancing public safety in Indian Country, Assistant Attorney General Tom Perrelli announced grants totaling $118.4 million to support law enforcement practices and sustain crime prevention and intervention efforts. Tribal governments received awards...