In The Hoop
FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2002

Welcome to In The Hoop, Indianz.Com's occasional column about assorted Indian issues.

In The Hoop: The Scorecard
Is it Friday already? That means it's time for the weekly list of the movers and shakers in Indian Country and beyond.

The Winners
The Cowlitz Tribe - For surviving the assault by the Quinault Nation and the Bush administration. Will the Duwamish and the Chinook emerge the same?

Tribal leaders - For continuing to fight the Bureau of Indian Trust Assets Management (BITAM).

Native artists - For being nominated for a GRAMMY, even if the nominees seem redundant.

Mille Lacs Chairwoman Melanie Benjamin - For taking a stand on tribal land. Let's just hope it's really yours.

The Losers
Indian Country - For still going without checks as the Department of Interior tries to lay blame on the special master, the Cobell plaintiffs, the sun, the moon...

Secretary Gale Norton - For trying to escape contempt charges by saying you can do anything you want, whenever you want, and you don't have to tell a soul about it.

The State of Nevada - Back in the days you were dumped upon because you had no political clout. Now you're being dumped even though you do.

Arthur Andersen - We wonder if Congress, the Department of Justice and the public would be so up in arms if they knew how you "accounted" for tribal assets. Somehow we doubt there'd be hearings or criminal inquiries.

In the Middle
The Tigua Tribe - Your casino is still open, but what will happen if you get shut down. We don't want to know.

The Redskins - They say your name is offensive. What about that coach of yours?

Crow elk - Will you be allowed to roam free on the Crow Reservation? Only a court knows.

Mike Anderson - For managing to get two newspapers to report on your latest brouhaha. But you still don't have a coveted nickname!

In Your Hoop
Who were your winners and losers? Email In the Hoop and let us know.