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Welcome to NDN News!

NDN News is a grassroots organization which acts as an information hub and resource for many issues in Indian Country. We are dedicated to providing information featuring headline stories, on-going issues, action alerts, and upcoming events.

James Ray Charged in Sedona Sweat Lodge Deaths

By FELICIA FONSECA
The Associated Press
Wednesday, February 3, 2010; 7:58 PM

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Motivational speaker James Arthur Ray was arrested Wednesday afternoon on three counts of manslaughter for deaths that happened after a sweat lodge ceremony he led in northern Arizona last year. Ray was taken into custody on an indictment at his attorney’s office in [...]

Lawmaker Wants to Ban Sweat Lodge Use by Non-Native Americans

Allowed only on tribal land, or with permission
FELICIA FONSECA, Associated Press Writers, JONATHAN J. COOPER, Associated Press

PHOENIX – An Arizona lawmaker wants to regulate the use of traditional Native American practices after three people died last year in a northern-Arizona sweat lodge ceremony.
Sen. Albert Hale, D-St. Michaels, announced on Tuesday that he plans to introduce [...]

Attorneys: No crime at fatal Sedona Arizona sweat lodge

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Attorneys for self-help expert James Arthur Ray say the deaths of three people in a sweat lodge ceremony he led were not the result of criminal negligence.
Authorities have focused a homicide investigation on Ray, but no charges have been filed.
The lawyers outlined their defense in letters to prosecutors that were publicly [...]

New Details About Deaths in Sweat Lodge Are Revealed

By JOHN DOUGHERTY
Published: December 29, 2009
As would-be rescuers struggled to drag three unconscious victims from an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony in October, the leader of the event, James A. Ray, sat outside in the shade, according to newly released police reports.
(click on the link below to review the court documents)
Multimedia
Interactive
Police Reports on Arizona Sweat [...]

Black Hills Treaty Council sues James Arthur Ray – text of lawsuit

FILED*  LODGED RECEIVED COPY*
NOV 02, 2009
CLERK US DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 
UNITED STATED DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA  
OGLALA LOKOTA DELEGATION OF THE BLACK  HILLS SIOUX NATION TREATY COUNCIL et al;     )         
Case No. :  CV-09-8196-PCT-FSM
JUDICIAL REVIEW OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW DELEGATE FLOYD HAND, IVAN H. LEWIS  )     
UPHOLD THE LAW OF THE UNITED STATES  OF AMERICA AND THE TREATY [...]

Lakota tribe files lawsuit against parties in sweat lodge incident

 
By Nina Rehfeld
SEDONA, AZ (November 12, 2009) – In the aftermath of the tragedy at Angel Valley Retreat Center, where an incompetently conducted “sweat lodge” held by Californian self-help guru James Arthur Ray killed three participants, political steps are being taken by several native people across the United States. While local Indians from Arizona are [...]

1st sweat lodge survivor speaks out

By FELICIA FONSECA, Associated Press Writer Felicia Fonseca, Associated Press Writer
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.
Texas resident Beverley Bunn is the first participant in the tragic incident to speak out publicly about the events that led up to the deaths. The 43-year-old tells the AP that by the time the sweat lodge ceremony began, the participants had undergone days [...]

Sweat lodge deaths investigated as homicides

Sweat lodge deaths investigated as homicides 
CNN) — An investigation into the deaths of two people who spent up to two hours inside a “sweat lodge” at an Arizona retreat last week has been elevated from an accidental death investigation to a homicide inquiry, Yavapai County Sheriff Steve Waugh told reporters Thursday.
Authorities said James Shore, 40, [...]

Chief Arvol Looking Horse speaks out concerning Sedona sweat lodge deaths

As Keeper of our Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle, I am concerned for the 2 deaths and illnesses of the many people that participated in a sweat lodge in Sedona, Arizona that brought our sacred rite under fire in the news.  I would like to clarify that this lodge and many others, are not [...]

Retreat leader speaks out over sweat lodge deaths

By FELICIA FONSECA
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — The self-help expert who led a spiritual retreat in Arizona where two people died after being overcome in a sweat lodge said the tragedy last week has left him “frustrated and confused.”
At a seminar outside Los Angeles, James Arthur Ray broke down in tears as he addressed the [...]