UPDATE - Chimney Fire Burned Close, No Structure Loss

     SOUTH FORK BAND - The so-called "Chimney Fire" burned onto the South Fork Reservation, but no structures on the reservation were lost.  The fire is 65 percent contained.

BREAKING NEWS - Fire Reaches South Fork Reservation

     SOUTH FORK BAND - It is being reported that the so-called "Chimney Fire" has reached the South Fork reservation, prompting evacuations.

BIA Reject Tribes Request for Second Partial Payment

     TE-MOAK TRIBE - The Bureau of Indian Affairs has posted an update on the Western Shoshone Claims website that begins "We have received several letters from Western Shoshone tribal leaders who on behalf of their membership have requested a second partial payment."

Wells Band Gets Enterprise Grant

     WELLS BAND - Vegas Inc. has the article The Notes: July 16, 2012 that reports "The Wells Band of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada will receive $52,800 to conduct a financial and market feasibility study and business plan for a Holiday Inn Express on tribal land."

Tribal Member Injuried in Bike Accident

     WELLS NV - The Elko Daily Free Press has the article Man Injured in Bike Crash that begins "A Wells man was flown to Elko with severe head trauma Thursday night after a bicycle collision."

Te-Moak Tribe to Receive Part of Cobell Settlement

     TE-MOAK TRIBE - The Sacramento Bee has the story List of 44 tribes in a government $1B settlement that begins "Forty-four American Indian tribes are part of the $1 billion settlement with the U.S. government over claims of mismanaged trust funds."

Tribal Council Sets Election Date

     TE-MOAK TRIBE - The Te-Moak Tribe has set an election date for the tribal-wide elections.

BIA Posts Western Shoshone Claims Update for June

     TE-MOAK TRIBE - The Bureau of Indian Affairs has posted a June update on their Western Shoshone Claims website.
     According to the update, the BIA has completed the quality assurance review on all the applications received by December 31, 2010.

BIA Posts New Progress Report, Review Two Weeks Behind

     The Bureau of Indian Affairs Western Shoshone Claims website has posted a new Progress Report through April 7, 2012 and a Western Shoshone Project Update.  The update begins "To complete the quality assurance (QA) process, the Western Shoshone Project Office needs to conduct QA reviews on 773 applications that were received up to close of business on December 31, 2010."
     And continues "The BIA is getting close to completing the QA reviews of these remaining applications and is approximately 2 weeks behind schedule."

Te-Moak Tribe Part of Cobell Settlement

The Reno Gazette-Journal has the article Nevada tribe one of 41 splitting billion dollar federal settlement that begins "An Elko County-based tribe is one of 41 who are splitting a billion dollar settlement with the U.S. government

Rep. Amedei Introduces Bill To Add Land To Te-Moak Tribe

     On January 24, 2012, Representative Mark Amedei [NV-2] introduced H.R. 3815, The Elko Motocross and Tribal Conveyance Act.  A copy of the bill can be found here.

BIA Posts Progress Report, June Payment Looks Remote

     The Bureau of Indian Affairs has posted a progress report.  According to the report, the quality assurance review processed approximately 700 applications in the month of December with 6,500 applications remaining to be reviewed.  Calculating the numbers, completion of the QA review of applications would take more than 9 months.

Update: Murder Suspect Caught

     According to reports, Daniel Draper, the suspect in the murder of Linford Dick, was apprehended in Winnemucca, NV today at 5:10 p.m.
     More information can be found here.

Update: Homicide Victim Identified

     The Reno FBI has identified the the homicide victim as Linford Dick of Battle Mountain, NV.  The FBI is searching for murder suspect Daniel Draper.
     More information can be found here and here.

Murder at Battle Mountain Band

     According to police, there has been a possible homicide at the Battle Mountain Band Indian colony.

     Daniel James Draper, 47, is being sought in connection with the crime.  He may be driving a black, 2001 Ford Ranger pickup with possible Nevada license plate, NR8764.

     More information can be found here and here.

BIA Holds Meetings, Red Tape Strangles Claims

     The Bureau of Indian Affairs held meetings in Elko and Fallon to answer why the distribution of the claims had been halted and why final distribution is planned for 2012.  Quality assurance is the answer for delays.  The BIA has posted this Question and Answer sheet on the Western Shoshone Claims website.

BIA Mails Notices to Western Shoshone

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has begun the process of mailing individual Western Shoshone the notice that has been posted on the BIA Western Shoshone Claims website.  In the notice, the BIA informs individual Western Shoshone that the target date of December 31, 2011 for final per capita payment has been moved to a later date.  The new target date is June 5, 2012.

Te-Moak Tribe Sues Interior Over South Fork Band Dispute

According to the Reno Federal Court, the Te-Moak Tribe filed suit against the Department of Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs over South Fork Band recall dispute.  The Te-Moak Tribe sued the Department because of a court ruling that said the tribe could be sued in court.

BIA Delays Western Shoshone Distribution Until 2012

The Bureau of Indian Affairs Western Shoshone Claims website has posted a new update that begins "The target date for the final per capita payment for the Western Shoshone Judgment Fund has been changed from December 31, 2011 to June 5, 2012."

Indian Youth Suicide Crisis

     MONTANA - MSNBC.com has the report Indian youth suicide crisis baffles families, community that begins "Chelle Rose Follette fashioned a noose with her pajamas, tying one end to a closet rod and the other around her neck. When her mother entered the bedroom to put away laundry, she found the 13-year-old hanging."