Samuel Winder: Indian defendants face harsher criminal penalties (February 4, 2016)

The net effect is American Indians will incur far longer terms of imprisonment than they probably would have received in state court for the same conduct.

House Natural Resources Committee passes Indian bills at markup (February 4, 2016)

Except for a land-into-trust measure affecting the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians, the bills were non-controversial and didn't receive much discussion.

Gun Lake Tribe announces retirement of longtime chair D.K. Sprague (February 4, 2016)

D.K. Sprague led his people through a number of major milestones, including federal recognition and the establishment of the tribe's land base.

St. Regis Mohawk Tribe supports move to Indigenous People's Day (February 4, 2016)

Students at Stafford Middle School in Plattsburgh, New York, came up with the idea after learning more about Christopher Columbus and his impacts on indigenous peoples.

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes help inmates reintegrate (February 4, 2016)

The Flathead Reservation Reentry program helps former inmates with employment, housing, transportation and other issues.

Reno-Sparks Indian Colony mourns passing of William Coffey (February 4, 2016)

William Coffey, Jr., was a veteran who served 22 years on the tribal council. He was 86.

Coquille Tribe donates $100K to help college with health programs (February 4, 2016)

The tribe is helping the Southwestern Oregon Community College build a new health and science technology building.

Group sues IHS for records about water pollution on Yakama Nation (February 4, 2016)

Friends of Toppenish Creek said its requests for documents about groundwater nitrate pollution on the reservation went unfulfilled.

Roger Chelsey: Pamunkey Tribe clears final hurdle for recognition (February 4, 2016)

Bob Gray, chief of the Pamunkey Indians, knows tribal members should’ve worked ages ago to navigate the bureaucratic hurdles leading to federal designation.

Brown University joins growing Indigenous People's Day movement (February 4, 2016)

Native Americans at Brown, a student group, persuaded faculty to make the change.

Charles Kader: Tribal burial grounds in Florida are being desecrated (February 4, 2016)

Lying in peace becomes more important when it’s your own bones being dredged up. The ownership of the past requires a wider vision than one’s own shadows.

Tribal leaders question management changes at IHS in Great Plains (February 4, 2016)

The regional director of the Great Plains Area was removed just days before a major Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing.

IHS chief medical officer apologizes for comments about newborns (February 4, 2016)

The agency's top medical advice and guidance official admitted she told Senate staff: 'If you’ve only had two babies hit the floor in eight years that's pretty good.'