Claims of better tribal school oversight draw lawmakers’ skepticism
WASHINGTON - A Bureau of Indian Education official told a House panel that his agency is making "strong improvements" in the oversight of tribal schools, despite a long history of problems and proposed cuts to the bureau's budget - claims greeted skeptically by lawmakers.
Tribal leaders call on Washington to respect Native sovereignty
WASHINGTON - The federal tax overhaul passed last year is "completely unacceptable" to Native Americans, one more example of what happens when tribes are not included in federal decision-making, said a national tribal leader.
Finalists hope Native American vets memorial is place of honor, healing
WASHINGTON - The charge for the National Native American Veterans Memorial was daunting: Design a memorial that honors the contributions of every tribe to every war fought for the U.S. More than 100 took up the challenge, and five design finalists have been chosen.
New bill would prevent displaying ‘Redskins’ in Arizona public-funded stadiums
Local politicians hope to limit what they perceive as disparaging professional sports team logos in public-funded stadiums.
Tribes say ‘no thanks’ to plan for scaled-back Bears Ears monument
WASHINGTON - Leaders of five tribes, including the Navajo and Hopi, accused lawmakers of "cherry-picking" tribal members to support an 85 percent reduction in the Bears Ears monuments, and said proposed tribal management of the new monument would be in name only.
White Mountain Apache water measure sidetracked by labor language
WASHINGTON - A bill to provide desperately needed water project funding for the White Mountain Apache tribe was expected to pass easily this week, but instead became the focus of a partisan fight over labor regulations.
Native Americans’ recovery from recession brings little advancement
WASHINGTON - A decade after the start of the recession, Native American poverty and unemployment was twice as high as the rest of the state and per capita income was less than half, margins that have barely budged since the recession started at the end of 2007.
Trump ‘Pocahontas’ remark overshadows Code Talkers event
WASHINGTON - Tribal groups reacted swiftly Monday after President Donald Trump used an event honoring Native American Code Talkers to call a Democratic senator "Pocahontas," what critics called a slur that marred an otherwise positive event.
Advocates worry FCC changes to Lifeline could hit Indian Country hard
WASHINGTON - The Federal Communications Commission is moving to rein in a low-cost telephone service for low-income customers that critics say will hit Indian Country hard if fully implemented.
White Mountain Apache seek tweak to law to let water project advance
WASHINGTON - A White Mountain Apache leader told House members Thursday that the tribe desperately needs to "replace the failing and terminal groundwater well system," but that current Interior Department regulations are preventing the tribe from moving forward on the project.
As tax reform looms, tribal leaders complain about being left out – again
WASHINGTON - A day before House Republicans were expected to unveil their plan to overhaul the tax code, tribal leaders and senators complained Wednesday that Indian Country once again does not have a seat at the table.
Supreme Court won’t hear Arizona case on custody fight over tribal kids
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court has refused to hear an Arizona case that pitted a non-Indian mother and Indian father against one another in a fight for custody of their children.
