Indigenous women come up short in Bolivian land redistribution
Bolivia’s ongoing program by President Evo Morales to redistribute property from wealthy landowners to poor, indigenous people (see video above) – who make up 60 percent of the population – doesn’t always include women. As this Indian Country Today report shows, from 1997-2008, 47 percent of titles granted to individuals have been in the name of a man only, while 20 percent were in a woman’s name; the rest went to couples. Nongovernmental groups like La Coordinadora de la Mujer are working to change laws that discriminate against women when it comes to land ownership.

Minnesota works to change failure rate among Natives on probation
While Indian offenders make up a relatively small part of the Minnesota judicial system, one in five American Indians fail probation and are sent to prison. The American Indian Policy Center, is working on liaison programs to try and change that, according to this Minnesota Public Radio report.

Blackfeet, Salish and Kootenai officials hold joint meeting
Officials from the Blackfeet Tribe and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in western Montana met last week to talk about how they could better work together. Such a meeting has been discussed for years – now that it’s happened, more are planned, according to the Char-Koosta News.

Standing Rock officials plead not guilty to embezzlement
Two officials from the Running Antelope District on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation have pleaded not guilty to federal embezzlement charges, according to the Rapid City Journal. Running Antelope District treasurer Wayland Yellow Earrings, also known as Waylon Yellow Earrings, 39, of Little Eagle, and Kenneth Mark Walking Eagle,each are accused of taking more than $1,000.

New Age guru accused in sweat lodge deaths faces new lawsuit
The Arizona man charged in the deaths of three people in a sweat lodge ceremony is being sued by people who say they lost thousands of dollars paid in advance for the Native American-style ceremonies held by James Arthur Ray, according to the Associated Press. A week’s program at his retreat outside Sedona could run nearly $10,000.

Gwen Florio

Tags: "Sweat lodge" deaths, American Indian Policy Center, Blackfeet, Bolivia, buffalo post, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Gwen Florio, indigenous, James Arthur Ray, La Coordinadora de la Mujer, land redistribution, Minnesota Department of Corrections, Minnesota Public Radio, Native American news, New Age, President Evo Morales, Quechua, Running Antelope District, Standing Rock Indian Reservation

First Nations stage huge protests in Canada against sales tax
Tribes blocked the Trans-Canada Highway in three places, and First Nations members also rallied in Toronto to protest the “Harmonized Sales Tax,” saying that one nation – in this case, Canada – has no right to tax another, according to the NewsWire. “Today is just the beginning,” says Grand Chief Randall Phillips of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians, representing eight First Nation communities across Ontario. “We have put the Federal and Provincial governments on notice that we are prepared to fight the imposition of the HST on First Nations.”

Support for sacred Black Hills site as national monument
The group calling itself Defenders of the Black Hills has endorsed the designation of the roughly 40,000 acres of National Forest System lands as the Okawita Paha National Monument, Indian Country Today reports here.

Within the hills, the sacred peak, Opahata I, also known as Harney Peak, is considered the “center of all that is” to many Native American nation. The surrounding Okawita Paha area, literally “Gathering Place,” also is considered sacred, the newspaper writes. The monument – where activities such as logging and prescribed burns would be off-limits – would be jointly managed by the National Park Service and the Great Sioux Nation.

Morales’ re-election means more pro-indigenous policies in Bolivia
Here’s an interesting story from Bolivia on the re-election of Evo Morales to the presidency. The result is likely to be more pro-indigenous policies in Bolivia, where Morales would not have won without strong support from the country’s indigenous people.

Dawes Rolls prove great tool for Native family research
Whatever you may think about the Dawes Rolls – created to allocate (vastly reduced) amounts of land to tribes – they’ve turned out to be a huge help to people doing geneaological research, according to the Terre Haute (Ind.) Tribune Star, here.

Top aide to Navajo president asked to resign
Navajo Nation Vice President Ben Shelly has asked Patrick Sandoval, chief of staff to President Joe Shirley Jr., to resign, the Navajo Times reports here. Shirley, under investigation in connection failed business dealings, has been on administrative leave for six weeks.

Gwen Florio

Tags: Black Hills, Bolivia, Dawes Rolls, Evo Morales, First Nations, Great Sioux Nation, Harmonized Sales Tax, Harney Peak, indigenous, Iroquois and Allied Nations, Joe Shirley Jr., Navajo Nation, Okawita Paha National Monument, Opahata I