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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2007)
NOTICES Public Comment Requested on Distributing Migratory Bird Feathers to American Indians The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serviee is seeking publie comment on a pro posal to develop regulations that would allow American Indians to obtain mi gratory bird parts and feathers of birds other than eagles for religious or spiri tual use. The Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) was published in the June 15 Federal Register. The EA would assess potential im pacts on the natural and human envi ronment that might result from different alternatives for legalizing the acquisition of feathers other than those from eagles, including impacts to American Indian culture and religion. Currently, no federal regulations govern the acquisition of migratory bird parts by American Indians. Between 1990 and 2000, the Fish and Wildlife Service's National Eagle Repository distributed migratory bird parts and feathers from birds other than eagles to enrolled members of feder ally recognized American Indian tribes. In 1999, the service suspended dis tribution of non-eagle feathers due to administrative resource constraints. Since that time, it generally has not is sued permits to enrolled tribal mem bers for the use of non-eagle feathers in religious and cultural ceremonies. The service regularly receives in quiries regarding the availability of mi gratory bird parts and feathers to American Indians for religious and cultural use. It acknowledges the value of this resource in preserving Ameri can Indian religion and culture and seeks input on nine topics: • • • • • • • • The sources of the parts and feath ers that would be made available Criteria or conditions that should be established for eligibility How different means of legal ac quisition may affect tribes How American Indian tribes could be affected if such authorization is extended to others in addition to en rolled members of federally recog nized tribes The extent of American Indian de mand for such feathers and parts Whether the types of feathers be ing requested should be limited to those historically significant to the tribes acquiring them Which species of migratory birds are most valuable for American Indian religious/spiritual purposes Potential impacts to migratory bird populations and other wildlife; and other concerns about this initiative The service does not expect to au thorize any means of distribution of non-eagle feathers and parts that would affect migratory bird or wildlife popu lations or impact wildlife habitat, and 14 does not anticipate taking live birds from the wild through hunting or any other method. Copies of the Notice of Intent may be found on the service's Web site at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/ MidwestBird, or obtained by writing: Andrea Kirk. Permits Administrator. USFWS Migratory Bird Permits, 1 Fed eral Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111, or calling 612-713-5436. Comments must be submitted by Aug. 14 and may be sent via e-mail to olherfeathers@fws.gov, submitted via www.regulations.gov, by fax to 612- 713-7179 or by mail to Andrea Kirk at the address above. Please reference RIN I0I8-AV14 when submitting com ments by any of these methods. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency respon sible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing ben efit of the American people. It manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 544 national wild life refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatch eries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wild life laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally signifi cant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and American Indian tribal governments with their conser vation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assis tance program, which distributes hun dreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. Find Grant Opportunities Everything you need to find and apply for all federal grants is avail able online at www.grants.gov. There’s a lot to choose from and apply for because so many agencies and programs are participating: • $400 billion in annual grants • All 26 federal grant-making agencies • 1,000* different grant programs Discover the convenience for yourself. Visit www.grants.gov. • - Siletz Newfijc; • • August20QZ* Above: Tribal members wait patiently in line outside the Tribal Community Center during a fish distribution in July. More than 500 packages of spring-run ehinook were given out. The fish came from the McKenzie Hatchery and the Dexter Hatchery Below: Tristen John hands a package offish to Marty Lockhart while Lavera ‘‘Babe” Simmons signs in with Kelley Ellis, (photos by Diane Rodriquez) PSU Position Open in Salem The site coordinator/advisor posi tion for Portland State University’s Ex tended Campus Program at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Ore., is open. Responsibilities include recruiting and advising students; participating in advising/recruiting activities, such as new student orientations and classroom presentations; and acting as a liaison between students and PSU departments on campus. For a full job description and details on how to apply, visit www.hrc.pdx.edu. Review of applications will begin im mediately; position will be open until finalists are identified. PSU is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity institution and. in keeping with the president's diversity initiative, welcomes applications from diverse candidates and candidates who support diversity. Nominations Open for School Board Award Magna Awards - American School Board Journal (ASBJ) is accepting nominations online for the 2008 Ma gna Awards through Oct. 1, 2007. Pre sented in cooperation with Sodexho School Services, winners of the Magna Awards for leadership receive national recognition in a special supplement to ASBJ and are honored at a luncheon at the National School Boards Asso ciation's annual conference. Awards are handed out in three enrollment categories - under 5,000, 5,001 to 20.000. and more than 20,000. Grand prize winners in each category receive a $3.500 cash award from Sodexho. Nominations this year are being accepted only online. For more infor mation, call 703-838-6739 or visit www.asbj.com/magna/.
