Stories from the Wind River Reservation

New Northern Arapaho Business Council resolves to fix tribe’s poor financial management

Bob Beck and Irina Zhorov — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:27:11 +0000

The Northern Arapaho Tribe is a mess, financially. They’re behind on their audits, past audits have not been flattering, and change has been slow to come. Wyoming Public Radio’s Irina Zhorov has been looking into why the audits are less than ideal and the status of the Tribe’s future financial solvency.

The Wind River Casino is doing well, but some tribal members expect more

Irina Zhorov — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:23:20 +0000

The Northern Arapaho Tribe opened the doors to its full-scale casino in 2005. Wyoming Public Radio’s Irina Zhorov reports that eight years into the venture, the casino is making money but some wonder where it’s going.

IRINA ZHOROV: The Wind River Casino has been open for almost a decade but it’s still a novelty to walk into; whirring slot machines, dimmed lights, card tables, all on the edge of Riverton on a piece of prairie.

[sound of machines]

UW’s Native American graduates are important to the Wind River Reservation

Bob Beck — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:20:04 +0000

In the mid 1990’s the University of Wyoming made a conscious effort to attract more Native American students to the University. Over the years recruitment and retention of students from the Wind River Reservation has been challenging. New efforts could change things and many believe that will be important for the long term health of the Reservation.

Arapahoe School Superintendent leaves after pivotal school year

Rebecca Martinez — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:16:04 +0000

The once-faltering Fremont School District 38 in Arapahoe turned a complete 180 since Superintendent Jonathan Braack took the helm in January 2012.

Peer mentoring program aims to prevent substance abuse and keep kids in touch with tribal heritage

Rebecca Martinez — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:13:23 +0000

Substance abuse is a concern for most school districts across the country, but on the Wind River Indian Reservation, it’s a red flag for especially high crime and suicide rates. Tribes have been trying – with mixed success – to keep kids from abusing alcohol and tobacco… But a new program from the Eastern Shoshone Department of Juvenile Services is working to train a league of student mentors to help their peers avoid risky behaviors. Wyoming Public Radio’s Rebecca Martinez filed this report.

New project wants to reduce diabetes on Wind River with gardens

Willow Belden — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:13:33 +0000

A new project on the Wind River Indian Reservation seeks to reduce diabetes rates by helping tribal families grow their own vegetables. More than 11% of the people on the reservation have diabetes.

The project is a collaboration between community health groups on the reservation, and the University of Wyoming.

Virginia Sutter with Blue Mountain Associates is one of the leaders of the project. She says diabetes rates are high because tribal members have very different diets than they have historically.

Wyoming tribes have 33 sanitation development projects in need of attention

Irina Zhorov — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:13:09 +0000

Native American leader says protecting water rights is key for tribes

Irina Zhorov — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:26:34 +0000

Native American tribes need to make sure they are protecting their natural resources. Eastern Shoshone Business Council member Wes Martel, from the Wind River Indian Reservation, spoke during a University of Wyoming American Indian Studies program this week. Martel said tribes need to be more careful about the kinds of contracts they enter into for energy development. He added that water is the new gold but very few tribes are taking real steps to secure this resource.

Federal sequester threatens school programs on Wind River Indian Reservation

Rebecca Martinez — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:48:42 +0000

Federal budget cuts are causing schools on the Wind River Indian Reservation to tighten their belts.

Wyoming provides funding to all public schools in the state, but 10 districts – including several on the reservation – also receive money from the federal Impact Aid program. That supplements funding to school districts that include federal land that is not subject to property taxes.

DOE releases numbers from testing of uranium-contaminated site on Wind River

Irina Zhorov — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 01:03:14 +0000

The US Department of Energy has released data from sampling the agency did at the Riverton Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act Site in August. The area, which is on the Wind River Indian Reservation, was contaminated with uranium and vanadium in the late 1950s and early 1960s, when a uranium mill processed ore there. In the ‘90s the DOE recommended waiting for natural dissolution to clean the site, and levels of contamination seemed to be diminishing predictably until a big flood in 2010.

Senate file would allow Northern Arapaho Tribe to hunt eagles

Rebecca Martinez — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 21:59:52 +0000

The State Senate gave second approval to a bill that would allow the Northern Arapaho Tribe to kill golden eagles for tribal ceremonies as long as it is done in compliance with federal law.

Child Advocacy Center opens on Wind River Reservation

Rebecca Martinez — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:48:15 +0000

Yesterday, the Eastern Shoshone tribe opened a Child Advocacy Center on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The center will offer emergency assistance to children and families who have been victimized by physical and sexual abuse.

Northern Arapaho tribal entities work to preserve their language in the face of extinction

Rebecca Martinez — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 21:27:08 +0000

HOST: The number of Northern Arapaho tribe members who speak their native language is dwindling. Tribal entities have been working for decades trying to preserve the language. Wyoming Public Radio’s Rebecca Martinez reports that they’ve been having mixed success.

(Sound: kids speaking Arapaho)

REBECCA MARTINEZ: Tribal elder Alvena Oldman is the director of an Arapaho language immersion preschool in Ethete.

OLDMAN: Hinono’ Eitiino’ Oowu’. Arapaho Language Lodge.

Tribal Energy Development Act Goes to Senate

Irina Zhorov — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 21:54:53 +0000

The Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2012 have passed the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. The Act aims to simplify and expedite the process of leasing for energy development on tribal land. U.S. Senator John Barrasso introduced it last October.

Wind River Tribes Want Bison to Return to Reservation

Bob Beck — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:58:18 +0000

The Wind River Reservation is actively trying to acquire some 160 bison that will be moved from one of Ted Turner’s ranches. Federal agencies are helping ranch managers determine where they should go.

Eastern Shoshone tribal member and wildlife scientist Jason Baldes says both the Northern Arapaho and Shoshone would like to acquire at least some of the Bison. Federal lands and refuges are being considered as other possible locations.

Problems Arise in Additional Testing at Riverton Uranium-Contaminated Site

Irina Zhorov — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:23:58 +0000

The Department of Energy is gearing up for new, one-time testing at the contaminated Uranium Mill Tailings site in Riverton.

A uranium mill in the 1960s left the groundwater there with high levels of uranium, and the DOE is still monitoring it. Additional testing is supposed to help the agency update their computer model, which predicts progress of clean-up at the site.

Sex offender registry established on Wind River Reservation

Rebecca Martinez — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:45:11 +0000

The Northern Arapaho Tribe has set up a sex offender registration office on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes recently agreed to share the registry. The first offender was registered Friday.

The office was established under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act – or SORNA – to close reporting gaps among states, territories and Indian Country.

More groundwater testing for uranium-contaminated Riverton site

Irina Zhorov — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 23:45:37 +0000

The U.S. Department of Energy will run additional groundwater tests at a Riverton site contaminated with uranium. The Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act site was contaminated after hosting a uranium mill there in the 1960’s.

Wyoming's Newlin just misses Olympic medal

Bob Beck — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 00:59:30 +0000

Wyoming’s Athletes will leave the London Olympics without medals. Riverton’s Brett Newlin just missed earning a medal when the U-S eight man rowing team he was a part of placed fourth, just behind Great Britain.

Meanwhile, Cheyenne's Jennifer Nichols was eliminated Tuesday in the archery competition.

Nichols was competing in her third Olympic games.

President Signs Federal Tribal Land Lease Legislation

Rebecca Martinez — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:22:49 +0000

After the US Senate unanimously passed the HEARTH ACT – giving tribes more control over leasing Indian land – President Obama has signed it into law.

The legislation will allow tribal governments to approve surface leases on Indian land directly, instead of waiting for the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs to approve them. Eastern Shoshone Business Council co-chairman Wes Martel says going through the B-I-A could take years.

Tribal Law and Order Two Years Later

Tristan Ahtone — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 21:31:45 +0000

Listen to the Interview

HEARTH Act passes U.S. Senate, could expedite land transactions on Wind River

Tristan Ahtone — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 23:58:10 +0000

The Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership – or HEARTH –Act has passed the U.S. Senate and is expected to be signed by President Obama soon.

Originally introduced by Wyoming Republican John Barrasso, the HEARTH Act allows tribes to approve land leases… while the current path to homeownership requires the Bureau of Indian Affairs to approve land leases. The BIA process has been known to take between six months and two years.

Eastern Shoshone Tribe Has Yet to Account For Stimulus Funds

Tristan Ahtone — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 23:58:34 +0000

According to the federal Recovery, Accountability and Transparency Board – the body responsible for monitoring money from President Obama’s economic stimulus program – 303 recipients nationwide have failed to file financial reports to show how they used the money.

Wind River Reservation Could Get Help Through VAWA

Tristan Ahtone — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 19:30:55 +0000

Supporters of the Violence Against Women Act are hoping the law will be improved with provisions that could have a big impact on the Wind River Reservation. The Act provides grant money to support women who have been victims of domestic violence, including on Reservations.

U.S. Attorney for Wyoming, Kip Crofts, says it would give tribes more power to prosecute domestic violence.

Pavillion residents may apply for water tanks

Tristan Ahtone — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 23:56:01 +0000

Residents in the town of Pavillion will soon be able to receive water cistern systems. A cistern is a water holding tank. Pavillion is at the center of an ongoing Environmental Protection Agency investigation on whether hydraulic fracturing has contaminated the towns drinking water.

Native Americans Applaud Supreme Court Ruling

Tristan Ahtone — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 02:47:33 +0000

In upholding the Affordable Care Act, the Supreme Court has also affirmed the permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

Many Native Americans receive healthcare through the Indian Health Service, or IHS, with more than 10,000 people in Wyoming eligible for services, and 2-million nationwide.

US Attorney sees a decrease in Wind River Reservation crime

Tristan Ahtone — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 23:39:42 +0000

Wyoming’s U.S. Attorney Kip Crofts says an increased presence in law enforcement on the Wind River Reservation is having an effect on high levels of crime there.

Crofts, along with members of the legislature’s Tribal Select and Joint Judiciary Interim Committees, met on Wind River earlier this week to discuss issues related to crime and Crofts says continued federal and state support may be the key to addressing the issue.

Land Grab: What Happened on the Wind River Reservation?

Tristan Ahtone — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 22:41:34 +0000

HOST: As we just heard, the uranium industry may have a long way to go in earning back the public’s trust, especially on the Wind River Reservation. In 2010, the Department of Energy released well monitoring data from the Wind River Reservation. What they found was that uranium levels in a number of their wells had spiked up to 100 times the legal limit. In early May the Department of Energy released tap test results showing uranium levels nearly twice the legal limit, but later said the results were anomalies.

Central Wyoming College Prepared to Weather 8% Budget Cuts

Rebecca Martinez — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 23:27:05 +0000

By Madison Williams

Some of Wyoming’s community colleges are concerned about potential eight percent budget cuts-- but Central Wyoming College isn’t that worried. And in fact, they’re planning to trim their budget even more than would be required under Gov. Matt Mead’s plan.

Central Wyoming College in Riverton will be eliminating six positions. But college President Jo Ann McFarland says they won’t cut programs or decrease financial aid. And she says the staff cuts shouldn’t be too painful, because most of the positions are already vacant.

Edward Wadda Passes

Tristan Ahtone — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:57:11 +0000

Edward Wadda, Tribal Liaison between the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and Governor Matt Meads office, passed in a car accident last night (Thursday) at the age of 42.

Wadda served as Tribal Liaison since 2005. While also volunteering as an adviser for Wind River United National Indian Tribal Youth, which works to promote drug-free, healthy lifestyles… promoting education, and keeping culture and traditions alive.

Judith Antell is the director of American Indian Studies at the University of Wyoming. She first met Wadda in 1993, and says they have remained friends ever since.