A former NBC studio technician has filed a lawsuit against the network, claiming that co-workers hatefully insulted his Native American heritage by displaying a stereotypical Indian doll on a noose and calling it his daughter. As you can see from this photo, the doll was wearing a sign identifying it as "Baby Wells," and the ex-employee, Faruq "Peter" Wells, says a co-worker threw the doll at him, saying, "Here's your long-lost daughter!" more ›

Not satisfied with the no apology they received from Mayor Bloomberg over his insensitive "cowboys and Indians" statement, members of a number of Indian Nations gathered on the steps of City Hall to chant for "leadership." Onondaga leader Oren Lyons explained to the Times-Union, "What's wrong with a Jewish man egging on a black man to shoot an Indian?...I had a lot of respect for that man and what he's done in New York City, but now...His people went through a holocaust and they have a museum in Washington, D.C., to show the pictures. We don't have a museum to show the holocaust; they wouldn't show the pictures." more ›

The Shinnecock tribe, who have lived for centuries in a patch of land on the Hamptons shoreline, have been formally recognized by the federal government after a 32-year court battle. The Shinnecock had to prove they existed in order to apply for federal funding to build schools, health centers and set up their own police force, which left some members bitter: "Why do we need federal recognition to show we are who we are? It's a humiliating, degrading and insensitive process. Why do Indian people have to go through that? No other peoples are treated like that," said Shinnecock leader Lance Gumbs. more ›

Unlike many New Yorkers who are just now losing their native inflections, much of the state's Indian population hasn't had a mother tongue for centuries. Shinnecock and Unkechaug are two extinct Long Island languages that tribal leaders and academics want to bring back to life, the Times reports. Ultimately they'd like Native American kids to start learning the languages in school: “When our children study their own language and culture, they perform better academically,” said Chief Harry Wallace, elected leader of the Unkechaug Nation. “They have a core foundation to rely on.” more ›

One of the largest casinos in the world, Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, is losing ground because of a set of bad wagers. Now with earnings dropping every year, it's just a question of how long the Indian-operated dice joint is able to stay at the table. Foxwoods, run by the Mashantucket Pequots, has the most slot machines of any casino world-wide. But according to the Times "slot revenue fell by 13.5 percent to $709 million in the 2008-9 fiscal year from a high of $820 million in 2004-5. In November, the tribe announced it was paying only $14 million on a $21 million debt payment." In total the betting house is $2 billion in the hole. more ›

The Seneca Nation is pressuring Governor Paterson to veto a bill that would tax cigarette sales to non-Indians; officials estimate the tax could generate $400 million in revenue, and Mayor Bloomberg recently said that tax revenue could save us from MTA fare hikes. The tribes argue that treaties dating to the 19th century make them exempt from state sales taxes; greedy white man legislators insist that sales to non-Indians are taxable. The debate is happening against the backdrop of a looming $6.4 billion deficit, and the Sun reports that Paterson could sign the bill as early as next week. But Seneca lawyer Robert Odawi Porter warns that would hurt the tribe's employment of 5,000 people and other economic benefits for western New York: "The state still comes out ahead. It just doesn't go into the Albany trough." more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a dead body in the water off of Houston St. on the west side of Manhattan, a shooting at Lincoln and Classon in Brooklyn, and a water rescue off Coney Island's Surf Ave. in Brooklyn.
• A young woman from upstate was crowned Miss New York last night. "An exhausted"-looking Miss NJ looked on, after two weeks of scandal and intrigue.
• Famed Central Park red tailed hawk Pale Male is fine after a construction worker pelted him while he was on his perch.
• Longtime area attraction at Rye Playland may never reopen.
• Remember searching for the prize in a cereal box? Cops found $100,000 stuffed in a box of Cap'n Cunch when they raided a Washington Heights heroin distribution center. They also found $12 million in drugs.
• City schools are operating with the assistance of lots of cash from private organizations and individuals.
• Aides to Governor Spitzer are fully aware of his anger management problems. He sees it as a problem-solving tool.
• Native Americans are getting involved in a sport that is mostly played by white affluent Americans: lacrosse, which was invented by Native Americans.

A look at some noteworthy television this week: more ›

We bet most anyone who has attempted to follow a map in Queens can empathize with the plight of new immigrant Damon Mootoo. Mootoo, who had just arrived from Guyana, got lost when he left his brother's home on 152nd Street in South Jamaica and ended up wandering around in the cold for five days. Five days! The Daily News reported that Mootoo, who can speak English but is hard of hearing, "didn't want to approach a cop because he feared he'd be deported." He managed to get by by begging for water and sleeping in an abandoned car or under a piece of wood in someone's yard in the below-freezing temperature. more ›

For those lucky enough to be enjoying this three-day weekend, let’s take a moment to raise our glass to Christopher Columbus, who arrived in the Americas, this time back in 1492. For many, the second Monday in October just means another day to work off our hangover and spend the majority of the afternoon in p.j.’s watching the Food Network (or is that just me?). But for Italian-Americans, Columbus Day marks an opportunity to celebrate their heritage with fun things like parades, food, more food and some good vino. That’s reason enough for us to get off the couch (as soon as this episode of “Incredible Edible Mansions” is over). more ›

Venezulan President Hugo Chavez followed up his devilish U.N. appearance with a visit to Harlem's Mount Olivet Baptist Church, where his tirade has earned him a nickname from the NY Post: . (Yeah, it doesn't quite have the ring of "Wacko Jacko.") Though Chavez's main goal was to announce that he would distribute discounted heating oil to the poor, he took the time to continue his jabs at the Commander in Chief :

Bush "is an alcoholic, a sick man and very dangerous. And he has a lot of power," Chavez said. more ›

Earlier in the week the Sun pointed out that while Brooklyn may be "so hot right now" in terms of people and real estate that heat hasn't exactly turned into any money for the print-set. Just as quickly as new Kings County publications come out they seem to close. The latest to fold is the actually enjoyable The Brooklynite ("the a Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee champion!"). But before it goes gently into the night, the Brooklynite still managed to put out an online only final issue. And there are some goodies in it worth reading over including a story on beauty pagents in Brooklyn, one on the 350 botanicas ("Hispanic religious healing shops") that dot our city, and one on the 10,117 Native Americans that live in Brooklyn (who knew?). more ›

Bondi reports that the members of the Shinnecock Nation, once closely associated with the course, now have little affiliation with it at all. Some of the tribe members helped lay the grass on the course, while others were employed at Shinnecock in 1986 and 1995, the last two times the U.S. Open was there. During those years and until 1999, Peter Smith, a Shinnecock, was the course superintendent who is in charge of the maintenance, operation and management of a golf course. Since 1999, the tribal chairman Lance Gumbs feels there "is no relationship with the course anymore." more ›

Taking a play out of fashion industry's notebook, the U.S. Mint continues its effort to sex up its image by introducing not one but TWO new nickels next year, one for the spring, the other for fall. The nickels will still have Thomas Jefferson's profile, but the backs are new, both with events from Jefferson's presidency. The Spring Nickel celebrates the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States as well as displaced Native Americans, thus one Native American hand and one military hand. Fall Nickel celebrates Lewis and Clark's journey through the Pacific Northwest; the image on the nickel is of Lewis's Keelboat. The Mint has an explanation of the Keelboat, but it basically looks like a boat you use when you're trying to explore the Pacific Northwest in the early 1800s. more ›

Gothamist loves to see awkward situations that we're not involved in, and that's certainly the case with our President and French leader Jacques Chirac. The Times shows that everyone else (at least White House reporters) is as interested in Bush-Chirac relations: more ›