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Two religious rights cases on Supreme Court's horizon (October 21, 2008)

With three Indian law cases already on the docket, this year's U.S. Supreme Court term could get see the addition of some high-profile religious rights disputes. The cases are being watched closely in Indian Country, whose efforts to limit...

NCAI opens 65th annual convention in Arizona (October 21, 2008)

Update: Sen. Obama provided a video message today. The National Congress of American Indians opened its 65th annual convention in Phoenix, Arizona, on Monday. A press conference highlighted homeland security and border issues in a state that is home to...

Gov. Palin on schedule for AFN annual convention (October 21, 2008)

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) is on the agenda for the annual Alaska Federation of Natives this week in Anchorage. This year's convention takes place Thursday through Saturday at the recently opened Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center. Palin is...

Tim Giago: Another important election in November (October 21, 2008)

It is said prior to every election that this is one of the most important elections of our time. And then the voters go out and re-elect the same old politicians. Change? On November 4, 2008 the people of the...

Unsolved murder of Chippewa man examined again (October 21, 2008)

Authorities in North Dakota are taking a fresh look at the 2002 murder of Russell Turcotte, who was a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. Turcotte, 19, went missing in July 2002. He was on his...

No hate crime charges for men in 'dirty Indian' attack (October 21, 2008)

Three men who yelled "dirty Indian" and other slurs at an Indian county commissioner won't face additional hate crime charges for the September 20 attack in Great Falls, Montana. Glacier County Commissioner Ron Rides at the Door, a member...

OSHA proposes $54K fine for Moapa Paiute Tribe (October 21, 2008)

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing a $54,000 fine for a travel plaza owned by the Moapa Paiute Tribe of Nevada. OSHA says the travel plaza, which is located on trust land, violated six safety rules. A fine...

Southern Ute Tribe exercises 1874 hunting rights (October 21, 2008)

The Southern Ute Tribe of Colorado is exercising its hunting rights under the 1874 Brunot Agreement. After the discovery of gold in Colorado, the tribe ceded millions of acres to the federal government. But they reserved the right to hunt...

Pueblo man seriously injured by drunken-driver (October 21, 2008)

A 37-year-old man from San Felipe Pueblo is in critical condition after being struck by a drunken-driver in Santa Fe, New Mexico, police said. Ruben Sanchez was hit late Sunday night while crossing a street. He suffered multiple fractures to...

Chair of residential school commission resigns (October 21, 2008)

The chairman of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission resigned on Monday, citing "incurable" differences with fellow commissioners. Harry LaForme, an appeal court judge, said the other commissioners don't accept his authority or the direction he wants...

North Dakota tribe seeks faster oil lease approval (October 21, 2008)

The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation of North Dakota wants federal officials to speed up review of oil leases on the Fort Berthold Reservation. The reservation is part of the Bakken formation, a large deposit of oil that has generated...

California tribes rebuild after October 2007 fire (October 21, 2008)

Two California tribes whose reservations were ravaged by wildfire in October 2007 are rebuilding their communities. The La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians lost 59 homes in the fire. Since last year, 26 have been rebuilt and 33 more are...

Yakama Nation approves guest-worker program (October 21, 2008)

The Yakama Nation of Washington has approved a guest-worker program to keep track of non-citizens who work on the reservation. Former council member Wendell Hannigan came up with the idea out of concern for crime and the large number...

Tribes question liquefied natural gas terminal (October 21, 2008)

Tribes with treaty rights on the Columbia River are asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reconsider approval of a liquefied natural gas terminal in Oregon. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation of Oregon, the Nez Perce Tribe...

Editorial: Progress in retiring 'Fighting Sioux' (October 21, 2008)

"As of Thursday, the North Dakota Board of Higher Education has officially approved a plan of action for addressing the Fighting Sioux nickname battle, something that has been in the waiting room since a settlement was reached with the...

Chickasaw Nation police chief wins national honor (October 21, 2008)

Jason O’Neal, the chief of the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, has been honored by the National Native American Law Enforcement Association. O'Neal, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, received the Chief of Police of the Year award during...

Five arrested in drug raid on Pine Ridge Reservation (October 21, 2008)

Five people were arrested last week during a drug raid on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Residents were awakened by the operation in the early-morning hours of October 17. They saw agents and officers from the Federal Bureau...

Oglala Sioux Tribe to consider police chief candidates (October 21, 2008)

The Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota will consider at least nine candidates for police chief. The tribe opened up the position after more than half of the officers walked off the job. Some of them complained about interim chief...

Yavapai-Prescott elder sues tribe over building (October 21, 2008)

Ted Vaughn, an elder of the Yavapai-Prescott Tribe of Arizona, filed suit in tribal court over a new building that he says will harm an historic home. Vaughn's grandparents, Sam and Viola Jimulla, lived in the home. The Jimullas...

Indian president of Bolivia to seek one more term (October 21, 2008)

Evo Morales, the first Indian president of Bolivia, said he will seek one more term but no more after that. Morales was elected in December 2005 to a five-year term. He remains popular among the country's Indian majority but...

Column: Sen. Stevens doesn't own the witness chair (October 21, 2008)

"Ted Stevens has sat on many things during his 40 years in the Senate. The 84-year-old Alaskan has had a seat on the commerce committee longer than any Republican in history, he boasted during his trial on corruption-related charges....

McCain's Indian backers to meet in Minnesota (October 21, 2008)

The American Indians for McCain Coalition will host a meeting for tribal leaders next week in Minnesota. The coalition is co-chaired by Jana McKeag of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and John Tahsuda of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma. Both...