09 Aug 2009: Native News from PECHANGA.net

EchoHawk makes first visit to northwest tribes (WASHINGTON) -- Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Larry EchoHawk made his first visit to the Pacific Northwest as the head of the BIA to meet with leaders of the 24 treaty Indian tribes in the area.

Garcia to visit Fort Berthold (NORTH DAKOTA) -- The president of the National Congress of American Indians is making a visit to North Dakota’s Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.

Obama backs Native Hawaiian self-governance bill / President's endorsement clear during Senate hearing (WASHINGTON, DC) -- The Obama administration came through on its promise to support Native Hawaiian self-governance yesterday with a powerful statement to a Senate panel, backing a bill that would give Native Hawaiians the same rights as Native Americans and Alaskans.

Editorial / Refine Akaka Bill to survive fight (HAWAII) -- Endorsement of Hawaiian sovereignty by President Barack Obama's Justice Department came as no surprise, since Obama was co-sponsor of U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka's bill as a senator and voiced his support during his presidential campaign.

Senators to Indians: We're sorry / Resolution doesn't OK any settlement (WASHINGTON, DC) -- A Senate panel Thursday endorsed a largely symbolic resolution that formally apologizes to Native Americans for years of "depredations and ill-conceived policies by the federal government."

Editorial: Apology to Indians a chance for more healing (SOUTH DAKOTA) -- This isn't the first time the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee has passed a resolution apologizing to Native Americans for past injustices by the United States government.

Suquamish-hosted canoe journey wraps up / Annual event had 'zero-waste' emphasis this year (WASHINGTON) -- For the past week, native Indians from Washington, British Columbia and Alaska have dined, danced, prayed and told stories together on the waterfront in Suquamish, with up to 10,000 others they call family.

Native Americans celebrate history, struggle in northwest (WASHINGTON) -- “Paddle to Suquamish” Aug. 1-11 was a dramatic sign that the Indian tribes of the Pacific Northwest are in the midst of a cultural reawakening.

Budget woes worsening / Employee layoffs, $18 million deficit seen in the next year (ARIZONA) -- While Navajo Nation employees are waiting for Controller Mark Grant, the Office of Management and Budget and the Budget and Finance Committee to pull a rabbit out of their collective hat and prevent employee layoffs next week, whatever magic act they come up with might not be enough to prevent layoffs in fiscal year 2010.

IHS summit grapples with agency’s role in national health care reform (COLORADO) -- Things are looking up for IHS, but the agency must adapt to rapid changes in national health care reform and demonstrate willingness to improve, Dr. Yvette Roubideaux, IHS director, said July 7.

Tighter tribal membership policies could shrink Indian health care rolls (COLORADO) -- Blood quantum rules could infuse some life into an Indian health system that is “starved, but not broken,” answering an oft-repeated theme at a recent IHS summit.

Wis. tribal summit focuses on coping strategies (WISCONSIN) -- The Menominee Indian tribe will host a summit designed to help native Americans cope with the trauma of their tribes’ histories.

Newcomb: What would Vine Deloria say? (CALIFORNIA) -- In 1972, Vine Deloria Jr. wrote “An Open Letter to the Heads of the Christian Churches in America,” in which he challenged the Doctrine of Discovery. The essay appears in the book “For This Land” (1999).

John Tuchi appointed interim US attorney for District of Arizona (ARIZONA) -- The Justice Department has announced the appointment of John J. Tuchi to serve as the interim United States Attorney for the District of Arizona.

Miller: Will others follow Episcopal Church’s lead? (OREGON) -- During its 76th General Convention in California, the Episcopal Church adopted a resolution entitled “Repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery.” In adopting this resolution, the church said the international law called the Doctrine of Discovery has created “destructive policies. ... that [led] to the colonizing dispossession of the lands of indigenous peoples and the disruption of their way of life.”

MORON ALERT: Naomi Campbell -- Pocahotmess (USA) -- One-upping alleged "1/16th Indian" Jessica Simpson, temperamental supermodel Naomi Campbell went to dinner with her boyfriend dressed in some sort of Native American getup in Italy last night.

Derogatory statue discovered (OKLAHOMA) -- On June 14, Seminole Nation General Council member Dave Narcomey and his wife were returning home to Bristow, Okla., when they stopped to get gas in Longview, Texas.

Yakama celebrate return of sockeye to Lake Cle Elum (WASHINGTON) -- After being absent for 103 years, 100 sockeye salmon were released into Lake Cle Elum July 7. The fish were trapped at Priest Rapids Dam, and after a two-hour journey were released into the lake with scores of onlookers to watch them swim into their new watery home.

Deal in works for water settlement with Montana tribe (MONTANA) -- Federal and tribal officials say they are near agreement on a half-billion-dollar water rights settlement for Montana’s Crow Indians that’s been held up by a Wyoming lawmaker.

Turtle Island Wind and Solar (ILLINOIS) -- When Tom Topash left the classroom behind, he decided it was high time he put his money where his mouth was - except with the wrinkle that he put his work where his spirituality is.

Yakama Nation produces electricity (WASHINGTON) -- The Yakama Nation has revived a hydroelectric generator and is producing some of its own power. Ray Wiseman, manager of the tribe’s utility, Yakama Power, says plans calls for reviving all three generators in the Wapato Irrigation Project and adding another three to generate about 8 megawatts of power.

Mille Lacs Band to seek public comment on soil cleanup (MINNESOTA) -- Later this month, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe will begin seeking public comment on its proposed brownfield cleanup standards.

Tribe might vote on membership (NORTH DAKOTA) -- Members of the Three Affiliated Tribes might vote this fall for a second time on a legal definition for tribal membership. Voters would decide whether to keep lineal descendency, which requires that a tribal member be a child of an enrolled member.

Meeting won’t fix Micmac election mess (MAINE) -- For the second time in four months, the unelected chief and council of the Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians have rejected a petition from tribal citizens seeking a meeting to select candidates for new elections. They claim that such a meeting would “violate the tribe’s bylaws.”

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