23 Dec 2009: Native News from PECHANGA.net

Chevron agrees to pay $45.5 million in settlement (WASHINGTON, DC) -- San Ramon-based Chevron Corp. will pay $45.5 million to resolve claims that it underpaid natural gas royalties to the government and Native Americans, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.

Chevron to Pay U.S. More Than $45 Million to Resolve Allegations of False Claims for Royalties Underpayment (WASHINGTON, DC) -- Chevron Corporation, Texaco, Unocal Incorporated and their affiliates (the Chevron companies) have agreed to pay the United States $45,569,584.74, to resolve claims that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly underpaying royalties owed on natural gas produced from federal and Indian leases, the Justice Department announced today.

Mohawks lose bid for relief over border-post closure (OTTAWA) -- The Federal Court of Canada rejected an injunction bid on Monday from the Mohawks of Akwesasne while they wait for their legal action over the closing of a border post in eastern Ontario to be heard.

Canada rejects tribal motion / Court decision means Mohawks still must report on mainland (ONTARIO) -- Akwesasne Mohawks who fail to report to customs are still running the risk of having their cars seized. The Federal Court of Canada rejected a motion from the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne to stop the Canada Border Services Agency from seizing cars, a measure that began in September.

Revision to Akaka bill raises the stakes (WASHINGTON, DC) -- One of the big political mysteries of this waning year and the start of the New Year is what is happening with the Akaka bill.

Native contracting benefit defended (WASHINGTON, DC) -- A U.S. Small Business Administration program that awards advantages in contracting to Alaska Native corporations is valuable to the whole state and should be continued, Congressman Don Young and Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan said at a news conference Tuesday.

Indian health bill on brink of passage (WASHINGTON, DC) -- The Indian Health Care Improvement Act, after years of waiting for congressional reauthorization, is close to passage as part of the national health care reform package.

Woman says suicides threaten the future of reserve in northern Manitoba (WINNIPEG) -- A Manitoba woman is speaking out about a spate of suicide attempts in her northern community that she says has her worried about the future of the reserve.

MARY PEMBERTON: Village suit seeks to overturn Tongass roadless exemption (ALASKA) -- An Alaska Native village joined in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that aims to protect some of the Tongass National Forest's remaining stands of old-growth trees.

Morgan: The government’s new land thieves (NEBRASKA) -- Most problems tribes have are with states. The federal government has settled into a nice pattern of benign neglect. But just when you thought it was safe to quit looking over our collective shoulder, the Internal Revenue Service is here to take what we have left.

Big and blue, ‘Avatar’ with Wes Studi comes to a cinema near you (WASHINGTON, DC) -- Cherokee movie star Wes Studi is no stranger to standing up against an invasion on the big screen. In James Cameron’s new 3-D, sci-fi blockbuster “Avatar,” Studi lends his voice and face to a computer-generated character whose planet is being invaded by a private army bent on exploiting its resources.

Trimble: Reinventing Santa (NEBRASKA) -- I would first ask my readers, especially those who are serious about global warming, to know that I am not making fun of their hero, Al Gore. After all, using the name of Al Gore and the word fun on even the same page is oxymoronic.

Shirley axes 3 staffers (ARIZONA) -- President Joe Shirley Jr. fired three staffers Dec. 17, including a high appointee selected by the vice president to help him lead while Shirley was on leave.

200 Navajo Nation workers decide to take early retirement (ARIZONA) -- A bout 200 employees have decided to take early retirement as part of an effort by Navajo Nation officials to trim the tribal government.

'It's all about the toys' (ARIZONA) -- The Native American Toys for Tots Program celebrated its 30th anniversary with a mass toy giveaway Monday as more than 3,000 children lined up in Veteran's Memorial Fieldhouse.

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