ending August 10
Alaska loses a warrior.
Glenn Godfrey, dead at age 53.
File Photo © FD/ADN.
There's never a dull moment when it comes to Indian trust. This week was no different, with the Department of Interior finally releasing the results of a long-awaited investigation. But after several months of review, Inspector General Earl Devaney found nothing for which anyone could be punished. What he discovered instead should be no less offensive: a "bunker mentality" developed among senior officials and government attorneys that prevented true reform of a system that holds billions of dollars in tribal and individual Indian assets. And although no official misconduct was found, the report isn't likely to quell critics. One lawmaker, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), has already called for a hearing into the recent ouster of the top Indian trust official, while a federal judge continues to mull holding Secretary Gale Norton and Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb in contempt of court. Get the Story:
McCain calls for trust fund investigation (8/5)
Editorial: What Norton doesn't want to hear (8/5)
Report documents trust fund failures (8/7)
Indian Trust: Conflicts of Interest (8/7)
Babbitt didn't lie but was 'inaccurate' (8/7)
DOI trust fund report released (8/7)
Court monitor has secret document (8/8)
Trust fund meeting set in N.D. (8/8)
Cobell speaks at race relations forum (8/8)
Top DOI computer official to retire (8/8)
U.S. argues limits as trustee (8/9)
Full trust fund report online (8/9) Sioux tribal members take on state
Four Sioux tribal members filed what was called the largest voting rights lawsuit in history this week, asking the federal government to review several hundred South Dakota election laws. The suit puts a wrench in the upcoming primaries for one the major political battleground states. Republicans and Democrats are vying for votes and both parties could use those of American Indians, who make up 6.6 percent of the voting population. Get the Story:
S.D. accused of rights violations (8/6)
Indians treated the same 'since the 1800s' (8/6) more stories
There's still more to read in the recap of the top stories.