ending June 3
Grandpa looks on intently.
CHiPS.
Missed our stories? All the headlines for the week can be found here. Indianz.Com plays critic
One of our favorite past times is watching TV and we finally got to tell you about our viewing habits this week. We first took at look at Sherman Alexie not only on television but also in books. If you hadn't heard by now, Alexie just released The Toughest Indian in the World, but we decided to take a look at his views on another book On the Rez by Ian Frazier. Impose a moratorium on all white writers, says Sherman. We also took a look at Sherman on the TV show Politically Incorrect where he appeared opposite a silly host and an equally bizarre guest. "Well, that's why we're giving you the gambling casinos, because we're not gonna uphold the rest of the treaties," she said. We'd rather see a moratorium on her. We then watched a 1980 episode of CHiPS which suprisingly featured a story line involving an Indian family. We met an interesting grandfather and his son, roughing it in an "ancient tribal home" in the Southern California hills. We also met a father not too happy about their campouts. While the show was hardly accurate in its portrayal of Indian culture, it gets points for recognizing that existence of Indians in that state. Now all we need is an more accurate update of the tribes in that state! Get the Story:
Sherman in the Spotlight (Arts and Entertainment 5/30)
California Indian Patrol (Arts and Entertainment 5/31) Indianz.Com plays letter writer
OK, who's next to write a letter on the Pequot controversies? Not only did we see the requisite letters from townsfolk who seem to know a lot about Indian tribes and law, we also saw local towns writing even more letters to the BIA requesting help. Of course, as we've already reported, they probably won't get it in the format they expect. At least The New London Day found a couple of lawyers who contradicted some of the claims the towns have been making. And in a letter to Indianz.Com, a reporter for the Connecticut newspaper promised to double check her future reporting on laws and regulations. But the real interesting comments came from Tim Giago, publisher and owner of the Lakota Nation Journal out of South Dakota. We couldn't help but respond, hoping to correct some of the fallacies presented to the majority white readers of the newspaper. We're all for more Indian viewpoints on the recent happenings because they are sorely lacking, but we hope they don't play into the stereotypes and anti-Indian, anti-soveriegnty views of the local anti-Pequots. Get the Story:
The Pequot Letters (The Talking Circle 5/30)
Towns want Pequot documents (Tribal Law 5/31)
Towns: BIA unresponsive (Tribal Law 6/1)
Tribes' lawyers rebuff towns (Tribal Law 6/1)
Tim Giago: Out where the Indians are real (The Talking Circle 6/1)
More Pequot Letters (The Talking Circle 6/2)
Pequots represent at GOP convention (The Talking Circle 6/2) Indianz.Com plays Court TV
We learned about three potentially important legal battles that face Indian Country this week. New Mexico's twelve gaming tribes await a lawsuit that will finally determine just how much money they will pay the state. The Yakama Nation of Washington filed their own lawsuit, seeking custody of the 9,000 year old Kennewick Man. And the man who is no stranger to legal battles will appear in court over his involvement in protests last year. Get the Story:
Tribes prepare for fight (Money Matters 6/1)
Yakama Nation files Kennewick Man suit (Tribal Law 6/1)
Means to stand trial (Tribal Law 6/1) more top stories
But wait, there's more! Get a recap of the other top stories of the week.