Indian Country Today National Plains

Imagine the time and toil it would take teachers and students to transform a schoolyard into a haven for wildlife. Southern Ute Indian Academy in Colorado did just that, qualifying as the first tribal school to earn certification as a National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Schoolyard Habitat site in 2005.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) – The Intertribal Bison Cooperative will receive a $175,000 federal grant to help Native American tribes develop farm market stores.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Military officials have dedicated a statue of an Oklahoma soldier who won the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War II.

Cinnamon Spear knows the value of a good education. The recent Dartmouth College graduate grew up on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in the small community of Lame Deer. The list of her accomplishments in high school and college is as long and diverse as her interests – science, dancing, filmmaking, community activities and ultimately, service to her people in Montana.

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., recently announced that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has released $476,000 to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe for the Wiconi Wakan Health and Healing Center. The funds will be used to provide suicide prevention services and counseling for children and youth aged 10 to 24.

TULSA, Okla. – A federal bankruptcy judge in Delaware ruled Oct. 14 that the auction of a Texas horse racing track should be rescheduled, delaying the hopes of a subsidiary of an Oklahoma-based American Indian tribe that wants to buy the facility.

DAYTON, Ohio – “The meaning of this project goes way beyond the goods that are given out. It’s about making connections between people,” said Guy W. Jones, Hunkpapa Lakota, who recently completed an annual 2,200-mile, nine-day pilgrimage to deliver more than 50,000 pounds of donated clothes and school supplies to the Rosebud, Cheyenne River and Standing Rock reservations.

LAWTON, Okla. – Western tribes, unified by a similar language, traveled hundreds of miles to visit their sister tribe, the Comanche Nation, during the 10th Annual Shoshone Language Reunion in September.

When Jennifer Nesahkluah held a fundraiser to heat Native homes, she had no idea that it would blossom into a fledgling nonprofit organization.

IGNACIO, Colo. – A lengthy battle by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe ended with a win Oct. 1 as the tribe prepared to take over operation of the Southern Ute Health Center, a former IHS facility that provides health care to Southern Ute tribal members and other local American Indians.

TULSA, Okla. – The key to prosperity for Indian tribes is the development of conventional and renewable energy resources, according to a Native leader who also thinks “Indian energy will be bigger than gaming.”

DENVER – Summer ends and sunburned tourists return home with souvenirs, among them T-shirts depicting scenic Colorado.

BROWNING, Mont. (AP) – The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in California has donated $20,000 to help Browning High School in northwest Montana complete work on a gym.

EAGLE BUTTE, S.D. – The Cheyenne River Youth Project in Eagle Butte has lost one of its primary funders, which will not be able to give its annual $70,000 operating grant for the next fiscal year. As a result, the youth project is seeking financial assistance from individual and group donors, former and current volunteers, strategic partners, friends and other supporters as the winter season rapidly approaches.

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern Oklahoma State University will be receiving a federal grant of $1.16 million over the next four years to continue its Native American Excellence in Education project.

LAPWAI, Idaho (AP) – The Nez Perce tribe will benefit from a federal cash infusion of $430,000 to help clean up a pair of underground storage tanks on its northcentral Idaho reservation.

WORLEY, Idaho – Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide effort of the National Association of Basketball Coaches working in collaboration with the American Cancer Society to raise money for the fight against cancer, to raise awareness about cancer, and to promote healthy lifestyles.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Brian Busey is hoping one of his recent accolades will inspire others.

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – Dune Lankard is an Athabaskan Eyak of the Eagle Clan who resides in Cordova when he isn’t traveling around the world to share the remarkable story of his work to preserve and protect the natural resources of his homeland.

DENVER – For the first time a city agency has taken an open, if cautious, position against the existing celebration of Columbus Day, which traditionally triggers street protests near the state capitol.