Facebook Twitter Email
In The Hoop
TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2002

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

I Thought You Were A Pima
Did you hear the one about a prominent tribal leader who wasn't recognized by one of his own constituents?

At a benefit for the Phoenix Indian Center last month, said leader approached a helpful-looking woman to find out where his table was located. The center was having a $100-a-seat dinner and silent auction, so you know he wanted to be seen.

But when the woman asked for his name so she could assist him, the tribal leader erupted for many to hear.

"I'm President Begaye!" he was overheard yelling. "I'm Kelsey Begaye! Don't you know who I am?"

Suffice to say, the Navajo woman wasn't all that excited with the chest puffing. She did what she could but Begaye was clearly deflated, leading some to wonder if his new crew cut had something to do with it.

Or maybe people just don't know who he is. A tough position since Begaye is seeking to run the Navajo Nation again.

Don't Cry For Me Caribou
The Wilderness Society is hosting a star- and senator-studded rally tomorrow in Washington, D.C., to oppose drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The usual suspects will be at the Upper Senate Park, including Sens. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). But if you want to hear Secretary of Interior Gale Norton sing her new hit single "Science Don't Impress Me Much," (a duet with Celine Dion with trance club remix by DJ Mark Pfeifle) you'll have to wait.

Apache singer Robby Romero, however, will be performing, hopefully with MTV crew in tow. Romero's special "Thunder Storm" is slated for debut on the channel later this month, so stay tuned for more.

Tomorrow's jockeying starts at 10 a.m.

By The Time I Get To Arizona
Former Deputy Commissioner for Indian Affairs Hilda Manuel has packed her iron bags and left the Washington, D.C., law firm of Steptoe & Johnson for browner pastures.

Responsible for such alleged phone calls as "This is Hilda, Do You Know Who I Am" and a never-enacted plan to have federal recognition basically outsourced to consultants paid by petitioning groups, this Tohono O'odham Nation Diva left at a time when the firm appears to have an Indian client crisis. Seems some tribes were upset Steptoe fought the Navajo Nation's hotel tax before the Supreme Court and have been wary of doing business with such partners as Kevin Gover.

But if you think Gover is starving for money, he's not. After all, he is a paid tool of the Indian gaming industry, according to The Wall Street Journal. And he's raking in a princely 15 cents a word for his Indian Country Today columns, a sure sign of a man who is crazy with power.

"I do it because it's kind of fun to say whatever you think," he told us recently. "It's not for the money."

In Your Hoop
Got an interesting tip to spill? Email In the Hoop and let us know.

Previous In The Hoops
Apr. 5 | Apr. 4 | Apr. 3 | Apr. 2 | Mar. 29 | Mar. 28 | Mar. 27 | Mar. 26 | Mar. 22 | Mar. 21 | Mar. 20 | Mar. 19 | Mar. 18 | Mar. 15 | Mar. 14 | Mar. 13 | Mar. 12 | Mar. 11 | Mar. 8 | Mar. 7 | Mar. 1 | Feb. 28 | Feb. 27 | Feb. 22 | Feb. 21 | Feb. 20 | Feb. 15 | Feb. 13 | Feb. 8 | Feb. 6 | Feb. 1 | Jan. 30 | Jan. 29 | Jan. 25 | Jan. 24 | Jan. 18 | Jan. 17 | Jan. 16 | Jan. 15 | Jan. 11 | Jan. 10 | Jan. 9 | Jan. 7 | Dec. 21 | Dec. 18 | Dec. 14 | Dec. 13 | Dec. 12 | Dec. 11 | Dec. 7 | Dec. 6 | Dec. 4 | Dec. 3 | Nov. 30 | Nov. 27 | Nov. 21 | Nov. 20 | Nov. 16 | Nov. 13 | Nov. 9 | Nov. 8 | Nov. 7 | Nov. 6 | Nov. 2 | Nov. 1 | Oct. 31 | Oct. 30 | Oct. 26 | Oct. 24 | Oct. 23 | Oct. 19 | Oct. 17 | Oct. 16 | Oct. 12 | Oct. 10 | Oct. 5 | Oct. 3 | Oct. 2 | Sep. 27 | Sep. 26 | Sep. 10 | Sep. 7 | Sep. 6 | Sep. 4 | Aug. 31 | Aug. 24 | Aug. 23 | Aug. 22 | Aug. 21 | Aug. 17 | Aug. 16 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 10 | Aug. 7 | Aug. 6 | Aug. 3 | Aug. 2 | Jul. 31 | Jul. 27 | Jul. 27: Code Talkers | Jul. 20 | Jul. 13 | Jul. 11 | Jul. 10 | Jul. 6 | Jun. 28 | Jun. 27 | Jun. 22 | Jun. 20 | Jun. 19 | Jun. 15 | Jun. 14 | Jun. 8 | Jun. 6 | Jun. 5 | Jun. 1 | May 30 | May 24 | May 23 | May 16 | May 11 | May 8 | May 7 | May 2 | May 1 | Apr. 30 | Apr. 25 | Apr. 24 | Apr. 23 | Apr. 20 | Apr. 19