The Bellingham Herald reports that thousands of people flocked to the Lummi Reservation on Monday because nearly 80 canoes landed there — some after almost a month of travel — marking the start of the weeklong Intertribal Canoe Journey. Paddlers from as far away as Bella Coola, B.C., began landing at 4 p.m., chanting and pounding their [...]

A historic meeting between U.S. tribes and Canadian First Nations is taking place today, July 31-August 2 at the Lummi Nation near Bellingham Washington.  The groups are meeting to consider entering a Treaty of the Indigenous Nations for economic activity between indigenous groups from around the world.  Maori groups from New Zealand have already been [...]

A Sonoma County California reservation has made the National Trust for Historic Preservation‘s list of most endangered historic places in the United States.

Indian country suffers from a lack of small businesses.  The vast majority of reservations do not have real economies, that is, the possibility of reservation inhabitants to be employed, to cash their checks and spend them on the luxuries and necessities of life all within the reservation.  Most Indians have to go to the nearest off-reservation town [...]

Global warming and climate change are starting a race for newly emerging assets in the Arctic.  An article in USA Today entitled White House sees black gold in melting sea ice sets out the Bush Administration’s concerns about missing out on a bonanza unless Congress approves a treaty that helps to determine who has rights to this [...]

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs again addressed issues of crime on reservations.  The chair, Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., stated that federal law has made jurisdiction in Indian country “confusing and complex.”  He added that the violent crime rates are increasing on reservations and “is a national disgrace” and the federal response has been “shameful.”  [...]

The House and Senate appropriations committees have restored and increased proposed funding for many Indian programs over the Bush Administration FY08 proposed budget.  For example, BIA funding was increased, educational assistance programs were restored, Housing Improvement Program, welfare assistance, fire protection, scholarships and child welfare. The House Committee also increased funding to fight methamphetamine issues. 

In my opinion, the most important cultural and social work that tribes can undertake today is to preserve and expand the everyday use of their languages.  Nothing will better save tribal traditions, cultures and distinctness as separate peoples than to get their new generations to learn their languages.  The Mojave Daily News reports on efforts by [...]

The Hoopa Tribal Civilian Community Corps is now currently accepting 30 Native Americans from anywhere in the United States to work in its AmeriCorps 9 month Residential Program starting on October 3, 2007. Hoopa TCCC is a tribal residential national service program for young Native men and women.  The Tribe is located in Hoopa Ca.  (Northern Rural [...]

The National Congress of American Indians reports that the U.S. Senate Republican Steering Committee continues to block all legislation that benefits Indian people.  The Senate Committee is a small group of Senators who have been working together to put secret “holds” on all legislation that would benefit Indian tribes and Indian people.