Kevin Fagan, Chronicle Staff Writer
Loretta Kelsey closed her eyes, letting memories ripple through her. Visions of coyotes, childhood acorn hunts and fishermen filled her head. A minute dragged by. She opened her eyes, stared at the calm waters of Clear Lake, and began to speak.
“Ah wee-e-bee, we-e bit,” she said quietly. “Fac-ma, fa-a-kepkin. Aquichin wa [...]

Posted on September 30th, 2007 by admin
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By Onell R. Soto, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
While plans for a proposed $800 million casino resort on the Viejas Indian Reservation are still being worked out, members of a neighboring advisory group say they are worried about its impact on water and traffic.
A top Viejas official said the tribe will work to lessen the effects of [...]

Posted on September 29th, 2007 by admin
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By JODI RAVE, Lee Enterprises
Tribally-owned casinos are often the only bridge between American Indian and non-Indian communities.
But too many times, roadblocks on that bridge can leave tribes in the crosshairs of the dominant culture.
“When they clash, it often has to do with issues associated with gaming,” said Marsha Kelly, a communications consultant in Minneapolis.

Posted on September 29th, 2007 by admin
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By Onell R. Soto, STAFF WRITER
District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has decided not to file charges in incidents following the eviction of residents of the Jamul Indian Village six months ago to make way for a casino.
Residents opposed to gambling on the tiny reservation clashed with private security guards designated as tribal police by the tribal [...]

Posted on September 28th, 2007 by admin
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By: EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer
Tribal leaders said Monday they were troubled by a growing public perception of American Indians as “casino-rich” special interests.
Anthony Pico, a prominent former chairman of the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians in East County, said tribal governments need to take a more active role in improving their image through the [...]

Posted on September 25th, 2007 by admin
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By Larry Gordon, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
In a classroom amid the dusty hills southeast of Lake Tahoe, an unlikely duo sit across from each other and conjugate the verb “to sleep.” They are working in Washo, a language with, at best, an uncertain future.
Elshim, to sleep. Lelshimi, I am sleeping. Elshimi, he is sleeping. [...]

Posted on September 21st, 2007 by admin
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By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID
When every known speaker of the language Amurdag gets together, there’s still no one to talk to. Native Australian Charlie Mungulda is the only person alive known to speak that language, one of thousands around the world on the brink of extinction. From rural Australia to Siberia to Oklahoma, languages that embody [...]

Posted on September 19th, 2007 by admin
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By John Noble Wilford, NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE
Of the estimated 7,000 languages spoken in the world today, nearly half are in danger of extinction and are likely to disappear in this century, linguists say. In fact, languages are now falling out of use at a rate of about one every two weeks.
Some endangered languages [...]

Posted on September 19th, 2007 by admin
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By David Hasemyer, STAFF WRITER
Richard Bugbee moved to the front of the room. He was quiet for a moment, gathering his courage not only to speak to the audience but to show reverence for his Native heritage.
It was Bugbee’s task to open a two-day conference on “Early San Diego Regional History” yesterday at InterAmerican College [...]

Posted on September 16th, 2007 by admin
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by: Valerie Taliman / Indian Country Today
After three decades of drafts, deliberations and delays, the United Nations General Assembly voted Sept. 13 to adopt the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The majority, 143 countries, voted in favor. As expected, the only countries opposing the adoption were the United States, Canada, New Zealand and [...]

Posted on September 14th, 2007 by admin
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