Missed our stories? All the headlines for the week can be found
here.
Everyone's talking federal recognition
It must be an election year because a topic
that isn't well known to many outside of Indian Country
seems to be getting a lot of attention this fall.
Although the BIA is ready to give up its
recognition duties, it won't be doing so any time soon.
Having already turned down one request for a moratorium,
the Bureau was asked again this week to put a temporary
halt on issuing findings on petitioning groups.
Not only that, the BIA faces and investigation of its
policies and procedures, should the General Accounting
Office decide to conduct an inquiry as requested
by several Republican members of Congress.
But given the amount of opposition and doubt about
two almost similar bills that would create a new
governmental entity whose sole purpose would be
recognizing tribes, the BIA might be in the recognition
business for quite some time still. The work load
could have gotten smaller since a judge in Connecticut
decided to take it upon himself to decide
on the status of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation,
but then another Pequot tribe began petitioning
for recognition.
Left in the shadows appears to be eight Virginia
tribes. "First to Welcome, Last to Be Recognized"
read their t-shirts and with serious opposition
facing a bill that would do exactly that, leaders
took to Capitol Hill to assure others that they
aren't seeking casinos on their land.
Get the Story:
Lieberman
asked to oppose bill (9/18)
BIA
wont stop recognizing tribes (9/19)
Virginia
tribes: Recognition Yes, Casinos No (9/19)
Another
Pequot tribe petitions BIA (9/20)
Court
to rule on recognition (9/21)
State,
tribe's lawyer question judge (9/22)
Recognition
bill awaits vote (9/21)
Republicans
call for BIA investigation (9/22)
Tribes
support BIA investigation (9/22)
How's your health knowledge?
Many say there is a health crisis in Indian Country,
but judging by the amount of study and research that
takes place today, the entire world is in the midst
of a health emergency. How can tribes
and Native people keep up?
With the launch of a new program at the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) and the Indian Health Service (IHS),
keeping up with medical knowledge might get a little
easier now that tribes have more power and funding
to undertake their own research. Instead of
being mere subjects, Native people can be in control
of their medical future by taking advantage of
the program.
One area Native people might avoid, however, is genome
research involving humans. A group of scientists this week
warned that modifying genes so that the changes
show up in future generations might not be
all that great for those future generations.
But not all genome research is bad. Native people
can benefit greatly from advances in
genetic science, says a leading Indian doctor. It
just might take a little time.
Get the Story:
Tribes
wanted for health program (9/18)
Experts
issue gene research warning (9/19)
Gene
therapy death target of lawsuit (9/19)
Doctor
foresees benefits for Indians (9/19)
more top stories
But wait, there's more! Read the
other top stories
of the week.
|
Printer friendly version