Native American Report articles from July 2004

Native American Report archives from July 2004

Senators turn their eyes toward improving Indian country prisons.
July 1, 2004... A Department of Interior report on problems at prisons in Indian Country may force the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to sharpen its focus on improving their conditions. Under the Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act of 1990, the BIA is...

Garrett Lee Smith memorial act (S. 2634).(Legislative Update)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act (S. 2634). Passed the Senate July 8 unanimously, and moved directly to the House, where it was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Sponsored by Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), the bill would provide...

Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.(Legislative Update)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (S. 1715). Sponsored by Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.). On June 16, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs ordered the bill with amendments to be reported favorably. Contact: Sen....

Indian Land Consolidation Act (S. 1721) amendment.(Legislative Update)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Indian Land Consolidation Act (S. 1721) amendment. Sponsored by Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.). The bill was heard in the Senate committees on Indian Affairs and House Resources. It would improve provisions relating to probate of trust...

Homeownership Opportunities for Native Americans Act of 2004 (S. 2571).(Legislative Update)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Homeownership Opportunities for Native Americans Act of 2004 (S. 2571). Sponsored by Sen. Michael Enzi (R-Wy.). It is being considered by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. The bill would guarantee loan repayments up to 95 percent if a...

California gaming compact affirmed after judge denies injunction.
July 1, 2004... A U.S. District Court judge's July 8 ruling means a handful of California tribes that last month agreed to new gaming compacts can breathe easier. The 16-page ruling by Judge Thomas Whelan denied a motion from the Rincon Indian tribe, owner of...

Indians ask for federal task force to help stop crimes at casinos.
July 1, 2004... Tribal governments will soon receive federal help in combating crime at Indian casinos. Beginning this month, federal agencies will come together to help address problems such as embezzlement, organized crime and money laundering. Law...

It's a sure bet that casino revenues will continue to increase for tribes.(casinos)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Revenues from California and northern Nevada Indian-owned casinos experienced a huge jump between 2002 and 2003, climbing more than $1 billion. Although not all gaming tribes have reported their 2003 earnings, the National Indian Gaming...

BIA official cleared of attempt to influence tribal affairs.(United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs)
July 1, 2004... A Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) official accused of wrongdoing was exonerated last month following a Department of Interior (DOI) investigation. The department cleared Deputy Regional Director Amy Dutschke of allegations that she...

Housing officials, lending institutions team to resolve loan complexities.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Although a few tribes have agreements with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to record and process land titles for mortgages, most tribes do not offer this service. The BIA is responsible for this function, yet the agency admits it is...

City petitions court to hear case over right to tax reacquired land.(Supreme Court)
July 1, 2004... The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a taxation case that could result in tribes paying state and local taxes on reacquired treaty lands. The Oneida Indian Nation of New York case could be heard by the Supreme Court later this year. Until...

Oglala Sioux join long list of tribes suing interior over mismanagement.(government securities)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A South Dakota tribe has joined the list of those suing the Interior Department over its claims against the Department of the Interior for mishandling tribal trust fund accounts. The Oglala Sioux Tribe's complaint is similar to the 1996...

Washington, Oregon threaten suit over damage at legacy nuclear site.(Environment)
July 1, 2004... Washington tribes are watching with keen interest as the state and the federal government continue to haggle over the environmental cleanup and restoration at the former plutonium production site near Richland. There's a strong possibility that...

Court says Oneidas' casino agreement invalid; legislature failed to ratify it.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The New York Court of Appeals has ruled that an 11-year-old agreement signed by the Oneida Indian Nation and then-Gov. Mario Cuomo (R) is invalid because it was never ratified by the state legislature. The 1993 compact allows the Oneidas'...

Out of the box thinking.(Around Indian Country)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... OUT OF THE BOX THINKING--States and local governments are trying several innovative programs to end racial and ethnic health disparities, and a new report outlines additional strategies for policymakers and health leaders to improve health care...

Minnesota--a new wastewater treatment plant, to be operational in three years, will provide sewerage service to about 1,000 homes and businesses around Mille Lacs Lake, including the Mille Lacs Reservation.(Around Indian Country)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... MINNESOTA -- A new wastewater treatment plant, to be operational in three years, will provide sewerage service to about 1,000 homes and businesses around Mille Lacs Lake, including the Mille Lacs Reservation. The project will protect the ground...

New Mexico--the Zuni tribe and the Department of the Interior completed on July 8 the final signing of a water rights agreement ratified by Congress in June 2003.(Around Indian Country)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... NEW MEXICO -- The Zuni tribe and the Department of the Interior completed on July 8 the final signing of a water rights agreement ratified by Congress in June 2003. The Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Agreement resolves an Arizona...

Oregon--the steelhead and salmon population of the Deschutes River in central Oregon will be helped by a plan announced at the signing of a new 50-year license for the Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric Project.(Around Indian Country)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... OREGON -- The steelhead and salmon population of the Deschutes River in central Oregon will be helped by a plan announced at the signing of a new 50-year license for the Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric Project. Once the project is completed,...

Washington--gaming tribes are contributing to the campaign to defeat a petition that would allow electronic scratch ticket machines in licensed gambling halls not owned by tribes.(Around Indian Country)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Gaming tribes are contributing to the campaign to defeat a petition that would allow electronic scratch ticket machines in licensed gambling halls not owned by tribes. Casino-owning tribes are opposed to the initiative, arguing...

Tribes funded for initiatives to restore ancestral lands.(Grants)
July 1, 2004... The Indian Land Tenure Foundation of Little Canada, Minn., awarded $1.855 million in grants to tribal organizations and individuals to be used for recovery and management of former tribal lands. The foundation's goal is to assure that land...

Lifelong contributions.(Changes)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... LIFELONG CONTRIBUTIONS--The late Sadie Brower Neakok, an Inupiaq Eskimo woman, was recognized for her leadership and vision by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Neakok was the first woman to serve as a magistrate in Alaska. She was appointed to...

New hire.(Changes)(Shirley Sneve joins Native American Public Telecommunications Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... NEW HIRE--Shirley Sneve has joined Native American Public Telecommunications Inc., Lincoln, Neb., as assistant director for programming and production. She will plan and manage program fund contracts for public television and future digital...

HIS/self-determination.(Funding Opportunities)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Agency: Indian Health Service (IHS). Amount: Up to $50,000 for each of 10 grants. Purpose: Each IHS grant could go to any federally recognized tribe that wishes to participate in the Tribal Self Government Program (TSGP), designed to...

AmeriCorps/reservation projects.(Funding Opportunities)(for Federal recognized tribes)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service. Amount: $100,000-$250,000. Purpose: Federal recognized tribes are eligible for eight AmeriCorps grants to assist reservations in a myriad of programs. Contacts: Bryson Coles,...

Indian Health Service/Epidemiology.(Funding Opportunities)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Agency: Indian Health Service (IHS). Amount: Up to $300,000. Purpose: The grants are to be used to develop Tribal Epidemiology Centers and public health infrastructure by expanding existing programs. Applicants will be responsible for...

Interior/Committee appointment.(Federal Register)(Office of the Solicitor, Department of the Interior)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Interior/Committee Appointment. Notice. New federal representative to the No Child Left Behind Negotiated Rulemaking Committee will be Lisa Lance. She is the attorney-adviser in the Office of the Solicitor, Department of the Interior. She...

Bureau of Indian Affairs/Gaming.(Federal Register)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Bureau of Indian Affairs/Gaming. The current Class III gaming compact between Montana and the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation has been extended until July 1, 2005. Contact: George Skibine, Office of Indian Gaming...

Calendar.(Calendar)
July 1, 2004... July 21, Aug. 12, Aug. 31: Office of Native American Programs, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), will host free training workshops on Section 184 and Title VI loan guarantee programs in various locations. Call (800) 992-4489 or...