04 Jan 2010: Native News from PECHANGA.net

Newsmaker Q&A: Purnell Swett, chairman-elect of Lumbee Tribe of N.C. (NORTH CAROLINA) -- Purnell Swett, a former school administrator, was elected chairman in November. He replaces Jimmy Goins, who left office because of term limits.

BRENDA NORRELL: Ten Events of the Decade (USA) -- Indigenous Peoples made history throughout this decade, struggling to protect Mother Earth, resisting colonization and exposing genocide. In the movements to resist oppression and protect the sacred, Native people carved out their place in history.

2010's people to watch in the GTA: Jessica Yee, activist (ONTARIO) -- Jessica Yee is a young woman on a mission. And at 23, she is wowing social justice activists twice her age with her passion and persistence.

Manitoba First Nations to highlight murdered women during torch run (MANITOBA) -- The Olympic torch will be welcomed with the usual hoopla and fanfare when it arrives in Manitoba next week, but when it crosses into Treaty One territory on Tuesday, it will face a stern reminder of Canada's missing and murdered indigenous women.

Copenhagen dashes 3rd world expectations (CANADA) -- Once again the “rich countries” have managed to yank prosperity away from the Third World. And at Christmas too. We’d promised them billions of unearned dollars in guilt payments for something called “global warming.”

The year Nunavut turned 10 / Nunatsiaq News looks back at the year 2009 in Nunavut (NUNAVUT) -- January: Joshua Oqallak, 41, a former resident of Arctic Bay, dies New Year’s Day following a fist-fight at a house in Ottawa’s Vanier district.

OP/ED: Old West, new cost (PENNSYLVANIA) -- When Uncle Sam makes a promise, by golly, he keeps it. His word is as good as his treaties with the Native Americans. Case in point: The benevolent old Uncle will give $1,000 apiece to the descendants of a tribe that he swindled back in 1887.

Blackfeet woman's battle for trust settlement long, pitched (MONTANA) -- Elouise Cobell grew up hearing stories of Native Americans traveling dozens of miles by wagon through waist-high snow in hopes of collecting payment for development by others on their land.

First results from air toxics monitoring at Idaho school released (WASHINGTON) -- The first results from air toxics monitoring at Lapwai High School on the Nez Perce Reservation in Lapwai, Idaho are now available on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site.

More