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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2004)
TRIBAL MEMBER NEWS Officers Save Woman’s Life Tribal police officers Kay Spang and Kraig Mitchell received recognition awards at the Law Enforcement Recog- nition Banquet in May. The following information, from Denis Bosque, tribal chief of police, was presented at the banquet: by Ryan French The purpose of this memorandum is to commend Con Kraig Mitchell and Kay Spang federated Tribes of Siletz Indians police officers Kay Spang they found her and appeared to be and Kraig Mitchell for their efforts in suffering from the effects of exposure the very early morning hours of 01 -01 -04 to the cold and wet weather. in finding, and most possibly saving the They called for medical personnel, life of, a missing 31-year-old woman. who responded and treated the woman The incident started with a third-party for her exposure to the elements. report that a woman had been assaulted There is no doubt in my mind that in Tolowa Court at approximately 12:30 if this woman had remained where she a.m. on 01-01-04. Her friends had not was, she would have succumbed to the seen her since the reported assault and were concerned for her welfare. The cold and wet weather, and would have weather was very cold and rainy mixed died from hypothermia. It is with pride that I commend with snow. Officers Spang and Mitchell for their Officers Spang and Mitchell, through their dedication and persever outstanding work. They both reflect the ance, worked long after their scheduled standards, professionalism, and devo tion to duty that I expect from officers time off in trying to locate the woman. Officers Spang and Mitchell finally of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz located her in a wooded area off of Indians Police Department and I am Tolowa Court heading toward the river. honored to be able to work with two She appeared to be passed out when such outstanding individuals. Miss Siletz, con’t from previous page feather dance songs. Robert and Bud, you did a great job on the recording. Most of all, I will remember and want to thank my fellow contestants. Thanks for the help, encouragement, advice, and having fun “because laughter is always good medicine.” Thanks to God for being my protector and thanks to everyone who kept me in their prayers. Anyone who wants advice or has questions about my year as Miss Siletz should feel free to e-mail me at the address above. I want to invite everyone to my giveaway on the night of Aug. 13,2004, at the Nesika Illahee Pow-Wow in Siletz on Government Hill. Lamprey Eel Harvest Brings in Nearly 1,000 Also, I want to remember the ones who have gone before me and made this path possible for me - the tribal members who went to the government to show that we are “Indian.” I know that my grandfather, Robert Rilatos, continued his way of life as an “Indian” even though the government said he had to check “other” under race. I believe that his hardships were made so that I could have the opportunity to go all over the country and tell them who the Siletz people are. Don’t ever forget our ancestors who paved the path before us to have a better education, health, and way of life. See everyone on the pow-wow trail! To all my relations - Humchi. During the first two weeks of July, several Siletz Tribal members, along with tribal biologists, participated in the annual traditional lamprey eel harvest at Willamette Falls. Approximately 450 eels were harvested the first day and more than 500 the second day. This year’s eel fishers included tribal members Woody Muschamp, Larkie Logan, Robert Kentta, Tom Downey, Kenneth (Pat) Hall, Del Hall, Samuel Hall, and Matt Williams. Other tribal members who pitched in to clean and smoke the eels included Daniel Brown, Alfred Lane IV, and Snoball Butler. Last year, the group only har vested around 200 eels and found this year’s conditions much more favorable. Traditionally, Indians used to gather at the falls this time of year to take advantage of the abundant spring Chinook, summer steelhead, and eel congregations at the base of the falls. According to tribes that permanently resided near the falls, they called it Hyas Tyee Tumwater and was later named Willamette Falls by white settlers. This time of year, the eels begin ascending Willamette Falls on their annual spawning migration into the Willamette Basin. These eels will burrow down into the sediment and rocks when they reach their spawning grounds later this summer and wait until next spring before they spawn and eventually die. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) commissioners and biologists, who set harvest limits on eel runs, decided this spring on a two-month lamprey harvest season that closed July 31 at the falls. Years of commercial harvest, for lab animals and bait, has taken its toll on eel populations and has been occurring heavily for more than 60 years. In 2002, the commercial fishery was closed and the personal use/tribal fishery harvested roughly 3,100 pounds, according to ODFW. In comparison, the commercial harvest of 1946 was 397,000 pounds. According to her letter to Delores Pigsley, Marla Rae, chair of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, “recog nizes that tribal peoples have harvested lamprey at Willamette Falls for centuries, and the important cultural and dietary role that these fish historically played. At the same time, tribal representatives and our own scientists have noted the decline of lamprey populations throughout the Columbia Basin.” In order to facilitate a balanced approach of harvest for personal use and conservation of existing eel populations, the commission has prohibited all commercial harvest and restricted the season to three days per week. Willamette Falls was open through July 31 for the harvest of eels to tribal members for personal use only. led by Woody Muschamp, eel harvest coordinator. August 2004 □ Siletz News □ 13
