- Residents of area towns who want to have a say in how their community is governed will have their chance this spring during municipal elections.
- A federal judge has ruled that the Navajo Nation can proceed with a lawsuit against Urban Outfitters, Inc., for selling items labeled with Native American names.
Residents of area towns who want to have a say in how their community is governed will have their chance this spring during municipal elections. Hopefuls can begin circulating nomination petitions January 5th. In Cortez, there will be four seats open on the city council. Mancos and Dolores will each elect five town trustees as well as a mayor, and Dove Creek will have four trustee openings. Stipends range from nothing in Dolores to $400 a month for the Cortez City Council. Check with your town clerk to find out about qualifications. Elections are April 5th and voting is done by mail, except in Dove Creek.
A federal judge has ruled that the Navajo Nation can proceed with a lawsuit against Urban Outfitters, Inc., for selling items labeled “Navajo”, “Indian”, and other Native American names. The tribe alleges the sale violated the 1935 Indian Arts and Crafts Act, which lets tribes take action against anyone selling a product “in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian-produced. . . .” The Pennsylvania-based company had argued that the plaintiffs lacked standing because they could not show any direct injury, such as lost customers. But in a December 21st order, U.S. District Judge Bruce D. Black ruled that the Navajo Nation does have standing to proceed.
