Native Americans

According to two new studies, says University of Georgia anthropologist

Sept. 4, 2007, Athens, Ga. – By 1763, the world of Cherokee Indians in the Southeastern U.S. was in tatters. The French and Indian War had wracked the sprawling Cherokee settlements that stretched from the headwaters of the Savannah River in South Carolina and Georgia to the Overhills towns in eastern Tennessee. Though 75 years would pass before the Trail of Tears would banish the remnants of the nation west to Oklahoma, the tribe watched hopelessly as much of its history rapidly faded.    » read more »

August 30, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Carl J. Artman today announced that the Interior Department will hold a series of dialogue meetings with tribes on its Indian Affairs Modernization Initiative during the month of September.    » read more »

Joint Resolution Would Codify State’s De-Facto Recognition of Northern California Tribe

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Aug. 28, 2007) – In an effort to reverse decades of injustice suffered by the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, Assembly Member Jared Huffman has introduced Assembly Joint Resolution 39, which urges Congress to restore federal recognition to the tribe.    » read more »

Initiative to Provide Renewable Resource

August 28, 2007 -- PHOENIX – Promoting access to electricity for Arizona’s Native American households is the focus of an energy policy initiative being launched by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano. The Tribal Rural Electrification Program (TREP), created in the Arizona Department of Commerce Energy Office, is intended to demonstrate renewable energy technologies for communities that are not connected to the state’s power grid.    » read more »

08/24/2007 -- CABAZON, CA -- At the first ever Prez on the Rez Forum yesterday, Governor Bill Richardson promoted his bold vision for the future of Native Americans.

"Together, we can do better in educating Native American students," Governor Richardson said. "I believe Native American issues do not get the attention they deserve in the Department of Interior. So, as President I will propose a cabinet-level department for Native American Affairs - like we did in New Mexico. Our work, together, will begin with respect and end with results."    » read more »

Enforcement action seeks halt to Kaweah Indian Nation Inc. from selling 'tribal' memberships that promise U.S. citizenship

August 21, 2007 -- EDINBURG – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has taken legal action against three individuals who conceived an unlawful scheme to sell U.S. citizenship to non-citizens. The so-called Kaweah Indian Nation Inc. and the three individuals claimed that non-citizens who purchased “tribal” memberships would be entitled to U.S. citizenship and thus circumvent the ordinary legalization process.    » read more »

August 13, 2007 -- Tribally controlled colleges and universities in Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin have been selected to receive grants totaling $11,982,128 to assist their efforts to improve and expand their capacity to serve American Indian students, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced today.    » read more »

Tribal Leaders Group to Serve as Advisory Body

7/18/2007 -- Nevada -- Hillary Clinton's Nevada Chair Rory Reid today announced the formation of the campaign's Nevada Native American Leadership Council, a group of Nevada tribal leaders united in support of Senator Clinton's bid for the presidency. The Council will serve as an advisory body for the campaign in Nevada regarding Indian Country, and play an active role in reaching out and organizing Native American communities for the January 19th Democratic caucus.    » read more »

Native American Leader, Veteran & Civil Rights Commissioner to Serve as National Campaign Co-Chair

7/18/2007 -- The Clinton campaign today announced the endorsement of tribal leader and civil rights advocate Arlan Melendez, Chairman of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and Vice President of the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada. He will serve as national Co-Chair of Hillary's campaign.    » read more »

July 11, 2007 -- COLUMBUS -- In an order issued on July 6th, Federal District Court Judge James G. Carr denied the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma’s motion to expand the scope of its lawsuit to add new claims and parties. This decision, along with Judge Carr’s earlier decision refusing to expressly approve the Eastern Shawnee’s privately-reached agreements with amenable landowners, makes clear that the agreements in question are private agreements between willing buyers and settlers, and not the settlement of valid legal claims to Ohio lands.    » read more »

July 6, 2007 -- Crazy Horse, South Dakota – The director of the U.S. Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, Kimberly A. Reed, visited South Dakota's Crazy Horse Memorial today to announce awards totaling $3,632,292 to 19 organizations serving Native American or Alaskan Native communities in 12 states. The awards were made through the CDFI Fund's Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA) Program.    » read more »

June 28, 2007 -- The nation’s top circuit court has refused to hear Utah’s appeal over a proposed nuclear waste site because it is so unlikely the facility will ever be built. Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff says this legal victory should end plans to put 4,000 high level nuclear waste containers in Utah.

“The courts are learning what we have known for some time: the proposed nuclear waste dump in Utah is at death’s door. I appreciate the hard work of our attorneys to help add another nail to the coffin,” says Shurtleff.    » read more »

06/28/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement following the Assembly votes on a new tribal gaming compact with the Yurok tribe and the amended tribal gaming compacts for the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians; the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation; the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians tribes:    » read more »

06/27/2007 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger today announced memoranda of agreement (MOAs) have been signed with the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians; the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation; the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. The MOAs are government-to-government agreements with enforcement provisions that are separate and apart from the 2006 compact amendments.    » read more »

June 22, 2007 - Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell announced that his office has been notified that the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs has denied federal recognition to the St. Francis/Sokoki Band of the Abenaki Nation of Vermont. The BIA issued a Final Determination today that the Abenaki group does not meet the necessary criteria to prove that it is an Indian tribe.    » read more »