More tribal housing agencies sue HUD over funding

From the examiner.com, November 26, 2008 American Indian tribes have filed lawsuits challenging the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s plan to stop providing money to maintain lease-to-own houses on reservations after 25 years. Housing agencies for 14 tribes filed lawsuits in federal court Wednesday alleging losses totaling about $46 million. Three other tribes filed similar [...]

One-Dollar Coin’s New Look Will Feature Indian Farming

New York Times, November 27, 2008 Corn, beans and squash — the “three sisters” of Native American agricultural tradition — will appear on the nation’s one-dollar coins next year, in a design to be announced Friday by the United States Mint. By the dictates of an act that Congress passed last year, the reverse side of the [...]

$6.2 Million Will Go to 38 Native American Projects (flyrodreel.com)

Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne today announced more than $6.2 million in grants will go to 38 Native American projects in 18 states to fund a wide range of conservation projects nationwide.  Two southeastern tribes, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, will receive grants. “Tribal Wildlife Grants [...]

State, Indian tribes settle gambling revenue dispute (Freep.com)

Michigan officials today announced the settlement of a long-running dispute with two American Indian tribes over the portion of gambling revenues paid to the state. The new deal announced by Gov. Jennifer Granholm with the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians will pump millions of dollars into [...]

U works to revive, retain native languages (Minnesota Daily)

Few University professors require a prayer pipe and wild rice for in-class activities. In fact, Dennis Jones may be one of the only ones.Jones, who prefers to use his native name, Pebaamibines, teaches first- and second-year Ojibwe language in the American Indian studies department. “It’s part of the language revitalization movement to honor your traditional name, [...]

Indian suit seeks $58 billion (Forbes)

American Indian plaintiffs say the United States owes them $58 billion in a long-running lawsuit over government mismanagement of lands.Plaintiffs in the 12-year-old lawsuit submitted the filing to federal court this week after U.S. District Judge James Robertson asked for their input. The suit, first filed in 1996 by Blackfeet Indian Elouise Cobell, claims the government [...]

House approves American Indian Heritage Day (Native American Times)

The Maryland House of Delegates voted 136-2 for a measure to honor Native Americans by making the day after Thanksgiving American Indian Heritage Day. “Given the contributions and rich history of Native Americans to the fabric of our society, I thought it was only fitting to designate the day after Thanksgiving as American Indian Heritage Day,” [...]

Napolitano receives NCAI leadership award (Indian Country Today)

Diane Enos, president of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, presented Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano with a National Congress of American Indians Governmental Leadership Award plaque during a Governor’s Tribal Leadership Roundtable discussion March 14 at the Salt River Community Building. ”This is in recognition of extraordinary service to the Native American people of Arizona,” Enos [...]

Exhibit covers all bases (Daily Gazette)

Unlike blacks, American Indians good enough to earn a spot on Major League Baseball rosters early in the 20th century weren’t told they couldn’t play.That’s the good news. The bad news is that despite an unofficial policy that worked something like “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” American Indians were often targets of the same racially based [...]

Is Inequality making us sick? (Native American Times)

A ground-breaking, new PBS series explores causes and seeks solutions to America’s health crisis by crisscrossing the country exploring how the social conditions in which Americans are born, live and work profoundly affect health and longevity. Several minority groups were studied, giving an insight into an understanding of long term causes of several illnesses. This [...]

Avoiding Diabetes by Living a Healthy Lifestyle

The October 2009 Circle article about Ron “Bear” Cronick stimulated a very positive response. You may recall that Bear is 70 years old and has had no diabetes until recently a physical showed some “pre-diabetes” elevated blood sugars. Bear is more motivated than ever to continue his daily exercise habits and high quality food choices. Many people, after reading the article, sent me questions and asked, “How can I avoid diabetes?” So a second article appears here to answer the question.

Dakota activist charged

In the 1950s, a wave of political repression in the U.S. targeted communists and sympathizers (“fellow travelers”). It was called the Red Scare. The new threat to domestic peace and tranquility has been dubbed the Green Scare, in which animal rights and environmental activists have been branded as “eco-terrorists”. Those convicted of crimes involving property damage have been sentenced to inordinately long prison terms; and there also have been convictions in conspiracy cases under a 2006 federal law called the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), legislation pushed by the meat and pharmaceutical industries. Scott DeMuth, a young Dakota activist from Minneapolis, is the latest person to run afoul of AETA.

Elders Tobacco Project has elders talking about tobacco

Attention Native smokers: before going out for your next smoke break, be advised that you are likely to be approached by a Native elder who has made a commitment to educate Native smokers in the Twin Cities about the deadly health affects and overuse of non-commercial tobacco. The  elders have been trained to approach smokers in the Native community and speak with them about tobacco. They don’t expect you to extinguish your cigarette, or quit cold turkey. They simply want to uphold their role as Native elders and advise you about the dangers of commercial tobacco, and the value of traditionally harvested tobacco.

Native Nations respond to climate change threats

Nearly 400 Native leaders, scholars, elders and Tribal College students from across the country, joined by scientists from the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), came together at a watershed gathering, the Native Peoples Native Homelands Climate Change Workshop II, to formulate a collective response to the far-reaching impacts of climate change on Native lands and communities.

New Seven Clans Casino Red Lake opens Dec. 23

When turning east off Highway #89 just south of the Red Lake Reservation boundary line, the first thing one sees is a giant sculpture on the front lawn of the new Seven Clans Casino facility. It is Migizi (eagle), flying low as if ready to pick a northern pike, talons spread, from the lake waters. The huge sculpture of a bald eagle is quite impressive, and many believe it may become a tourist attraction in and of itself.  Beyond Migizi is a building that might be a longhouse, celebrating the architecture of the Ojibwe Woodlands culture, the new Seven Clans Casino complex.

Tribute pole bound for China unveiled

TERRACE, British Columbia – The Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art at Northwest Community College unveiled a grizzly and eagle totem pole to elders, dignitaries and guests. At the Jan. 27 totem pole blessing ceremony, elders laid their hands on the pole as Sam Lockerby and Bossy Bolton blessed the historic pole. The finished piece is destined for the Sichuan province of China and, in particular, to the indigenous Qiang people who were severely impacted by an earthquake in May 2008.

Aboriginal Hockey Showcase well worth the rush

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN – There was a mad rush to make it happen, but organizers are thrilled with the Aboriginal Hockey Showcase they were able to stage in Saskatoon.

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to hear Hul’qumi’num land claim

LADYSMITH, British Columbia – A coalition of First Nations groups has taken its human rights complaint against the government of Canada into the international arena where the state will be required to defend its record.

Aboriginal radio producer signs with Rogers Radio

TORONTO – Anishinabek Nation citizen Jennifer Ashawasegai has signed an exclusive one-year contract with Rogers Radio to produce a weekly one-hour aboriginal news magazine radio program. The program, “Bamoseda,” will feature national aboriginal news, current affairs, community and culture features, as well as spotlights on entertainment. Bamoseda translates to “walking together” in the Anishinabe language.

Students part of project to improve health literacy

HAZELTON, British Columbia – Two Northwest Community College students enrolled in a community-delivered program in the First Nations Village of Gitsegukla have finished working with a team from the Hazelton area on a project called “Improving Health Literacy in Communities.”

Casino windfall will help Anishinabek communities

Anishinabek Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee is hopeful that First Nations in Ontario and their relationship with Chippewas of Rama First Nation will be better and move in a positive direction.

Anishinabek launch campaign against ‘illegal, immoral’ tax

NORTH BAY, Ontario – The 40 member communities of the Anishinabek Nation are launching a comprehensive information and direct-action campaign against the proposed Harmonized Sales Tax, which Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee has labelled “illegal and immoral.”

First Nations graduate’s art part of 2010 Olympics

TERRACE, British Columbia – Northwest Community College and Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art alumnus Dean Heron and his artwork are featured in a book of aboriginal art inspired by the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

Aboriginal tourism industry launches cultural authenticity program

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia is making it easier for visitors to identify the most authentic, accurate and respectful representations of First Nations and Métis culture by launching its “Authentic Aboriginal” cultural authenticity program.