Chronology of American Indian History

Wisconsin, but the tribe is to retain all income from
their sale. These profits will be used to finance the
managing and replenishing of reservation fisheries.

May

A Canadian policeman is found guilty of
killing activist Dudley George.
Kenneth Deane, a member of the Ontario Provin-
cial Police, is found guilty of criminal negligence in
the shooting death of Chippewa Anthony “Dudley”
George, one of the activists who occupied Ipperwash
two years earlier (see entry for SEPTEMBER 4 TO 12,
1995). Deane claims that he shot George to prevent
him from firing at fellow officers, but others testify
that George was armed with only a stick. Native sup-
porters of George are first gratified by the verdict but
will express anger in June when Deane is sentenced to
180 hours community service rather than jail time.

May 24

The first Native American Music Awards
ceremony is held.
In a ceremony at the Pequot tribe’s Foxwoods re-
sort in Connecticut, the Native American Music
Awards, or “Nammies,” recognize excellence in the
growing Native American music movement. Among
those honored are Oneida singer Joanne Shenan-
doah (“Best Female Artist”), Navajo (Dineh) fluist
R. Carlos Nakai (“Best Male Artist”), and the Black
Lodge Singers (“Artist/Group of the Year”). Hosted
by singer Wayne Newton, who is of Cherokee de-
scent, the program features performances by many
artists, including Joy Harjo and Robbie Robertson.

May 30

Voters reject equal gender representation
in Nunavut legislature.
In the area that will become the new Canadian terri-
tory of Nunavut in 1999 (see entry for DECEMBER 16,
1991), voters decide not to require that an equal num-
ber of women and men serve in the Inuit-governed
territory’s legislature. The commission overseeing the

creation of Nunavut had proposed that the legislature

be composed of 22 representatives, one man and one

woman from each district. The plan was intended to

guarantee that women would have a substantial role

in governing, as they had in traditional Inuit society.

June

A tax on Indian business revenue is proposed.

Chair of the House Ways and Means Commission,

Representative Bill Archer proposes a 34 percent tax

on revenues of Indian-owned businesses, particu-

larly lucrative casinos. He argues that the untaxable

status of these enterprises gives them an unfair ad-

vantage over neighboring non-Indian businesses.

Opponents of the measure—including Ben Nigh-

thorse Campbell, the Northern Cheyenne senator

from Colorado (see entry for 1992)—successfully

argue that such a tax would violate the sovereign

status of Indian tribes.

August 17

Inuit whaling is resumed in the

eastern Arctic.

Funded by the Keewatin Wildlife Federation, hunt-

ers from across the eastern arctic region of Canada

use rifles and traditional harpoons to land a bow-

head whale off the coast of Repulse Bay. The whale

is the first legally hunted by the Inuit since the

Canadian government began regulating their bow-

head hunting in 1976. The hunt is made pos-sible

because of the expansion of Inuit hunting rights

following the announcement of the creation of the

Inuit-governed territory of Nunavut (see entry for

DECEMBER 16, 1991). Gifts of muktuk (blubber)

are sent to Inuit communities throughout Canada

to celebrate the event.

October

The Makah are given permission to

hunt whales.

The International Whaling Commission approves a

1996 application from the Makah Indians of Wash-