Update

Out of the 183 BIE schools, 78 have been assessed to be in poor condition. That means that they are 50 years old or older, and that 75 percent of students or more are taught in portables. Out of these 78 schools, 10 were chosen according to criteria created by the School Facilities and Construction Negotiated Rulemaking Committee that was set up under the No Child Left Behind Act.

The strength of a tribe is in its members, and when a significant number of tribal members are caught in the web of drug or alcohol abuse, the tribal community suffers from the loss of their knowledge, talents, and leadership. Many tribal governments have recognized substance abuse as a communityproblem for many years, and dozens have established alternative courts that would handle these cases outside of typical – and ineffective – criminal court proceedings.

On April 3, Dr. Joe Medicine Crow, 102, walked on. The last living link to the pre-reservation history of the Crow people, Medicine Crow was eulogized in many circles – in the Crow nation, in the state of Montana, by President Obama and by Senator Tester, the vice-chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

A new employment and training bill, updates on the Children’s Commission bill, the NEST act, and the president signed the Indian Trust Asset Reform Act.

Legislation in both the House and the Senate addresses the growing black market in Indian ancestral objects. These two bills attempt to stop the trafficking and export of these treasured items. Meanwhile, the controversy over the ancestry of “the Ancient One” – the Kennewick Man – rages on. Two bills, House and Senate, propose to “Bring the Ancient One Home.”

Here’s what happens when National Forest land is not specially protected – it can be traded off to a mining company and substantially altered from its natural state. The Environmental Impact Study is underway now; faith groups weighed in.

These mountains are stone, just like the stone monuments in Washington DC and state capitols all over the country. Sometimes the only way to protect them from being carved into commercial enterprises is to declare them a “national monument” under the Antiquities Act.

The Tribal Law and Order Act, originally passed in 2010, is due for renewal. Following a series of hearings and roundtable discussions, the Senate Committee passed a bill to amend and continue the authorities and programs for another 5 years.

The next chapter in the story about the troubles of the Indian Health Service. Will Congress begin to see the results of long-term underfunding and understaffing? Two comprehensive bills begin to grapple with the major structural challenges, and the House reaches out to hear from tribal leaders.

What did they finish? What’s still on the to-do list? Check out what the Appropriations Committees just finished for rural, agricultural and tribal college funding.