Native Americans

October 6, 2009 -- SANTA FE – New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today announced more than $24 million in federal stimulus funds will go to schools, colleges, tribes and other agencies to improve energy efficiency all over New Mexico. The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department has awarded funding to 28 projects selected through a competitive process.    » read more »

October 07,2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) commended the Senate for formally apologizing to Native Americans for the United States’ long-history of inadequate policies regarding Indian Tribes.

The formal apology was included in the Department of Defense appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2010, which passed the Senate today.. The apology amendment was sponsored by Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and was based on a resolution originally co-sponsored by Cantwell.    » read more »

Clearing the Way for Historic Water Rights Settlement

October 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today joined New Mexico’s congressional delegation to advance a vital water supply project that will provide clean, safe and reliable water to a quarter of a million people in the Navajo Nation, the City of Gallup and the Jicarilla Apache Nation. The action clears the way for resolving the Navajo Nation’s long-standing water rights claims in the state.    » read more »

October 1, 2009 -- Flagstaff, Arizona -- As Hopi and Navajo leaders in the American Southwest evaluate their energy policies, the Sierra Club and other environmental groups remain committed to working with their tribal partners to find clean energy solutions that work for everyone.

"We are proud of our longstanding partnerships with tribal leaders in the Southwest, and we are committed to supporting efforts to transition from dirty coal to clean energy solutions," said Sierra Club President Allison Chin. "Together, we can rekindle our economy, reduce greenhouse gases and support people who have been left in the dust by a dangerous and dirty, coal-based economy."    » read more »

Tribal Economic Development Bonds Awarded to More than 50 Tribes Nationally, Including Three in New Mexico

Sept. 15, 2009 -- ALBUQUERQUE —As part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to highlight the local impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), Treasury Deputy Secretary Neal Wolin and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today announced $1 billion in stimulus bond authority for 58 tribes across the country.

Deputy Secretary Wolin and Governor Richardson visited the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and met with local tribal leaders to discuss how Tribal Economic Development Bonds (Tribal Bonds) will be used to create jobs, complete projects, and bring much needed economic revitalization to Indian Country.    » read more »

9/15/2009 -- (HELENA) – Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer today released the 2009 Tribal Relations Report highlighting the major accomplishments of the State of Montana and Tribal Nations working together during the past year. The full text of the report is available online, at http://tribalnations.mt.gov.

“This report embodies the State of Montana’s commitment to strong, long-term state-tribal relationships,” Governor Schweitzer said. “We look forward to our continued work ahead in forging more agreements and strengthening government-to-government relationships”.    » read more »

New agreement stabilizes revenue stream to state, local governments

September 14, 2009 --
LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) today announced the signing of an amended gaming compact. The amendment officially takes effect when published in the Federal Register.

The amended compact stabilizes the revenue sharing agreement between the state of Michigan and the tribe and its FireKeepers Casino in Emmett Township near Battle Creek. It also restructures the Local Revenue Sharing Board to include more communities near FireKeepers Casino and clarifies the funding formula for local revenue sharing funds.    » read more »

Grants bring total HUD's Recovery Act investment in Native American and Alaskan communities to over a half billion dollars

August 25, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced that HUD is awarding five grants, totaling $2.5 million, to Native American and Native Alaskan communities across the country to improve housing and stimulate community development (see below for detailed grant list).

The Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) funds being awarded today are provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act). These grants will help Native American tribes improve the quality of their housing stock, develop viable communities, promote energy efficiency and create jobs.    » read more »

August 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the Bureau of Reclamation has awarded Archer Western Contractors, Ltd. of Phoenix, Arizona, a $13 million contract to construct two pumping plants near Farmington, New Mexico. The pumping plants are key features for continued development of the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project. That ongoing project, which Reclamation is developing for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, provides water for the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry farming enterprise of the Navajo Nation.    » read more »

August 27, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Education has awarded more than $2.7 million to eight vocational education programs on Oahu and on the 'big island' of Hawaii to support career and technical education efforts helping Native Hawaiians. The grants are awarded under the Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program (NHCTEP), which provides assistance to projects aimed at increasing vocational enrollment and course completion by Native Hawaiian students.

Five of the NHCTEP grants are being awarded to programs operated by ALU LIKE, Inc., the statewide non-profit service organization for Native Hawaiians.    » read more »

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Larry EchoHawk, the U.S. Department of Interior's Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, is among featured speakers at next week's Native American Summit, hosted by Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert.

The two-day event will take place Sept. 2 and 3 at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi. In addition to Assistant Secretary EchoHawk, the conference's keynote speaker is Ivan G. Bolden, the first Chief of Public Private Initiatives for the U.S. Department of the Army.    » read more »

Compact heads to Legislature for ratification

August 31, 2009 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today signed a compact on behalf of the State of Florida with the Seminole Tribe of Florida worth an estimated $6.8 billion over 20 years for Florida’s students, for the purpose of authorizing Class III gaming on tribal lands within the State.

Governor Crist first began negotiations in July, following passage of SB 788 during the 2009 regular session. Governor Crist signed SB 788 on June 15, 2009, Tribe Chairman Mitchell Cypress signed the compact on Friday, and the compact now heads to the Legislature for ratification.    » read more »

July 8, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that six Native American communities in New Mexico will share nearly $5 million for water improvements. Funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the Environmental Protection Agency and the Indian Health Service.

“This nearly $5 million investment of stimulus funding will be used to improve water infrastructure in six communities in New Mexico. It will create good jobs in the short term, and provide long-lasting quality of life improvements in communities where they are badly needed,” Bingaman said.    » read more »

At event on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, CDFI Fund Director Gambrell announces awards for Native Community Development financial institutions

July 1, 2009 -- KYLE, SD – As part of the Obama Administration's continued investment in economic development in communities around the country through the Recovery Act, Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund Director Donna J. Gambrell today announced $8 million in financial assistance awards for 10 CDFIs committed to serving economically distressed Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities across the nation.    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) today introduced legislation to reauthorize funding for the Public and Indian Housing Crime and Drug Elimination Program (PIHDEP). The bill will help fund public and Indian housing entities to battle crime and drug use in partnership with their local law enforcement.

“This effective program eliminated by the previous Administration left public and Indian housing without important resources,” said Johnson. “This bill would allow local communities to develop programs to better fight drug use and drug-related crime. I’m proud to introduce this bill and will continue to fight to provide critical funding for public and Indian housing in South Dakota and across the country.”    » read more »