Native

Arizona Accused in $2.8 Billion Medicaid Fraud Case, Native American Communities Severely Impacted

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WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — In a landmark legal challenge, the state of Arizona is accused of complicity in one of the largest Medicaid fraud schemes known to the U.S., involving the exploitation of Native American populations through corrupt addiction treatment providers. Filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, the lawsuit seeks justice and hefty damages for the aggrieved parties, including survivors and estates of the deceased who were subjected to misleading and harmful practices in scam sober living homes and behavioral healthcare facilities. Leading the case are attorneys John B. Brewer and Dane L. Wood from … Read more

Conservationists and Native Tribe Sue to Stop Nevada Lithium Mine, Citing Threats to Endangered Wildflower and Cultural Sites

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RENO, Nev. — Conservationists and the Western Shoshone tribe are actively opposing the federal government’s authorization of a lithium mine in Nevada, fearing it will eradicate an endangered plant species, disrupt sacred native sites, and alter natural groundwater flows. This litigation underscores the tensions between ecological preservation and the pursuit of renewable energy resources. The Center for Biological Diversity, alongside the Western Shoshone Defense Project, initiated legal action following the U.S. Interior Department’s approval of Ioneer Ltd.’s Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron mining project. This site, located near the California border and equidistant from Reno and Las … Read more

Community Remembers Sabrina ‘Brenda’ Kaye Lawyer, Beloved Local Cook and West Baden Native

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West Baden, IN — Sabrina “Brenda” Kaye Lawyer, a longtime resident and valued community member of West Baden, Indiana, passed away at the age of 62. Her death occurred on Wednesday at the Westview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where she had been receiving care. Born to Otis Mason and Virginia “Pauline” (McElroy) Mason, Brenda was well-known in her community, especially remembered for her role as a devoted cook at Nila’s in West Baden. Her culinary skills and warm personality made her a beloved figure both in and out of the kitchen. Brenda was widowed by … Read more

Federal Court Revives Native American Tribe’s Lawsuit Over Casino Built on Sacred Grounds

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. — In a significant turn of events, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a lawsuit by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation which contends that another tribe’s casino construction has violated the sanctity of their ancestral lands in Alabama. This case marks a poignant instance of inter-tribal legal strife over historical lands that hold deep cultural significance. The Oklahoma-based Muscogee Nation has long contested the development undertaken by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, asserting that the land in question, known as Hickory Ground, is a sacred burial site. The Muscogee were … Read more