9th Circuit rules for Karuk Tribe in case over mining along river (June 4, 2012)

An en banc panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for the Karuk Tribe of California in a dispute about gold mining along the Klamath River. By a 7-4 vote, the court ruled that the U.S. Forest Service...

Oglala Sioux Tribe confirms death of young girl from hantavirus (June 4, 2012)

A young member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota died from the hantavirus, the Associated Press reports. The girl was reported to be under 10 years of age. She was the first known case of the hantavirus on...

Edward Wadda, liaison for Eastern Shoshone Tribe, dies in crash (June 4, 2012)

Edward L. Wadda, a member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe who served as a liaison to the state of Wyoming, died on Thursday. He was 42. Wadda died in a single-car accident. He swerved to avoid hitting a deer when...

Column: Elizabeth Warren has credible Cherokee ancestry claim (June 4, 2012)

"Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren has no documents to prove her family’s Native American heritage, but I have to give her the benefit of the doubt. First, she was born in Oklahoma. Now, if you remember, Oklahoma, back in...

Crow Tribe still recovering from flooding disaster on reservation (June 4, 2012)

The Crow Tribe of Montana is still recovering from major floods that hit the reservation a year ago. Hundreds of people were forced to evacuate after floods destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings. “Oh my gosh, it was just devastating,"...

Column: Republican activist goes after tribal sovereignty again (June 4, 2012)

"Is the Washington state Republican Party taking another misguided run at tribal sovereignty? They are, if Bob Eberle and his fellow Skagit County Republicans have anything to say about it. Eberle lives on the Swinomish Indian Reservation on Puget Sound....

Cherokee Nation Businesses begins search for a new executive (June 4, 2012)

The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma will be hiring a new leader for its economic development corporation. The board of directors of Cherokee Nation Businesses has begun the search for a new chief executive officer. “It’s going to take awhile ......

Pascua Yaqui land bill, Alaska Native land bill on House schedule (June 4, 2012)

The House is due to consider two Indian bills tomorrow. H.R. 4222, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Trust Land Act, places land in trust for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona. The tribe has agreed to a gaming prohibition. S.292, the...

Paper runs series on Indian tuition waiver at Fort Lewis College (June 4, 2012)

The Durango Herald is running a four-part series on the Indian tuition waiver at Fort Lewis College in Colorado. Any American Indian or Alaska Native student can attend the college free of charge. The state agreed to the waiver in...

Senate and House hearings on universal service fund and tribes (June 4, 2012)

The Universal Service Fund and its impact in Indian Country will be the subject of two hearings on Capitol Hill this week. The Senate Indian Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on the issue on Thursday. It will be followed...

SCPR: James Ramos, San Manuel, in heated race for county seat (June 4, 2012)

"One of the big local races on Tuesday is for Third District Supervisor in San Bernardino County. Neil Derry, the incumbent, is running again, but he’s been dogged by a misdemeanor conviction for hiding campaign cash. He’s facing a strong...

Voters in California asked to approve increase in cigarette taxes (June 4, 2012)

Voters in California are being asked to approve an increase in tobacco taxes. Proposition 29 increases the tax on a pack of cigarettes by $1. The average price for a pack is $5.71, The New York Times reported. The tobacco...

FBI: One in every four violent crimes comes from a reservation (June 4, 2012)

"Driving along a remote dirt road on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico recently, a rancher crested a ridge and noticed two animals intent on something in a nearby ditch. As he approached, one of the scavengers loped away—the other...

Shoshone-Bannock Tribes agrees to distribute $60M settlement (June 4, 2012)

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Idaho will distribute a $60 million trust settlement to its members. The figure isn't exact but it looks like each member will receive about $10,000, KIFI-TV 6 reported. The tribe has about 5,700 members. "It'll help...

Colville Tribes pushed to distribute more from $193M settlement (June 4, 2012)

A member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington wants more of a $193 million trust settlement to go to individual Indians. Joanne Sanchez is circulating a petition to present to the tribal council. It calls on...

Law firm for Cobell case also worked on tribal trust settlements (June 4, 2012)

A law firm that worked on the $3.4 billion Cobell trust fund settlement also represented three tribes that reached settlements with the Obama administration. Kilpatrick Townsend represented the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of...

Opinion: Winnemem Wintu Tribe deserves respect for ceremony (June 4, 2012)

"I am writing this letter out of concern for the Winnemem Indians, who are requesting a designated area to be blocked off on the McCloud Arm of Lake Shasta June 30-July 4. I have absolutely no connection to this tribe,...

Lance Morgan: Winnebago Tribe builds economy on reservation (June 4, 2012)

"Ho-Chunk, Inc. and the Winnebago Tribe are probably one of the best-kept secrets in Siouxland. We have been quietly building a robust economy in Winnebago and are developing a variety of projects throughout the region and the nation. We are...

Harrison Tsosie: Water rights an exercise of Navajo sovereignty (June 4, 2012)

"As Navajo people pause to reflect on the Nation’s progress in the 144 years that have passed since the signing of the Treaty in 1868, my thoughts turn to another important decision facing the Nation. The Navajo Nation is currently...

Simon Moya-Smith: Mascots continue to dishonor Indian people (June 4, 2012)

"No right-wing GOP chubby-belly apologist would dare attempt to persuade civil rights activist Al Sharpton into believing that black-faced caricatures of young African Americans, clad in ripped overalls and Afros, are not disrespectful. “Wait a minute, Al. You’ve got it...

Native Sun News: High school grads honored with eagle feathers (June 4, 2012)

The following story was written and reported by Karin Eagle, Native Sun News Staff Writer. All content © Native Sun News. Daphne Richards-Cook, left, and Robert Cook, right, proudly envelop their eldest son, Lamont Cook, during the recent eagle feather...

Tim Giago: 'Divide and rule' was unwritten goal of Indian agents (June 4, 2012)

The old saying goes, 'If you think you can trust the government, ask an Indian.'