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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (April 30, 1982)
Page 6 April 30,1982 April 30,1982 Foresters, loggers gather in Spokane for symposium “If we do not think a proposed project will be profitable over the long haul, we will not invest in it. It is that simple. The project has to be good enough, with the help ot our seed money, to attract private financing. We will not expend more than 25% to 75%. The balance will have to come from other sources, the private sector. No other BIA funds.” Concluding his statement, Smith stated, “This administration will encourage, assist and support self-determination for Indian tribes. We know this is not something we can wrap up and put on a platter for thé tribes, but rather it is something the tribes, have to, and can, achieve. We will not create a new form of paternalism by trying to do for the Indian tribes what they must do for themselves. The policy of self-determina tion is only a decade old. The Indian people have already accomplished much, and they are going to accomplish much more. We are going to do what we can to help tribes develop strong tribal governments and we are going to help promote true economic development in Indian country. This is the policy that President Reagan and Secretary Watt have endorsed and I plan to implement.” BEHIND THE MIC, IN FRONT OF THE CAM ERA—Assistant Secretary of the Interior Ken Smith was in Spokane, Washington to attend the sixth annual Timber Symposium. Following his speech to conferees, he was interviewed by the three local TV stations and one local newspaper. by Donna Behrend Forestry and logging representatives from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and tribes from across the nation and Alaska gathered last week in Spokane, Washington to attend the sixth annual Timber Symposium. This year’s symposium was entitled, “Treegonomics: Accountability and the Management of Indian Forest Resources.” “Forests are among the most valuable resources owned by the Indian people and sound management is vital to the welfare of many tribal and non-Indian economies.” states the welcome statement of the symposium. “The importance of Indian forest results not only from its prominent position as a cornerstone supporting the income and employment structures of local communities, but also from its significance in sustaining the cultures of tribal societies.” The welcome concluded, “The values that flow from Indian forests cannot be adequately ;xpressed in monetary terms alone, yet management decisions are often reduced to a single dimensional question of dollars: Do the benefits jusitify the costs?” Keynote speaker for the meeting was Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Ken Smith. In the three days of meetings, said Smith, “you will be considering such things as the country’s present economic situation and the depressed timber industry, in particular: the BIA’s budget, this administration's Indian policy and their effects on your operations. “And of course the future is considered. Timber, unlike coal and oil and some other resources, is a renewable resource and always has a future. What will be the needs, the problems, the resources of the future and how will our tribes use this great asset of timber as a base for further development?” Smith continued, “I was asked to give a perspective on National Indian policy....the basic Indian policy of the United States is still self-determination, which over the past ten years has meant a lot of different things to different people. Self-determination involves being tough and independent and determined to make progress on your own. “In looking at this policy of Indian self- determination, we must remember that it has been the policy of the United States for only the past decade. The 200 years before that were all aimed the other way, at creating dependency. In the first century, the United States was busy conquering the west and makine treaties to confine the Indians to reservations. This was followed by about sixty years of Indians being treated like wards of the government and then, following the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, about 40 years of Federally-controlled tribal governments. So, we Indians have had 200 years of dependency training and ten years of a policy of self-determination...it is still very new.” Smith further explained self-determination, “President Reagan, Secretary Watt and myself have all endorsed Indian self-determination as national policy. But self-determination is not something the government can give to a tribe. It is something the tribe has to achieve. You will never hear me say it is easy! It’s tough! Self- determination is the alternative to paternalism and paternalism breeds more dependency. If you don’t want the government running your affairs and making your decisions, you have to assume the responsibility.” Smith reflected on his years with the Warm Springs tribes. “During my years with the tribe, I saw the benefits that came when the tribal government, with the people’s backing, seperated the management of tribal enterprises from tribal politics. This move brought about better government, more accountability, and most of all, stability in our entire operation. “We learned how to work with the Federal government to best utilize the programs and funds that were available. But the key was that we also invested our own tribal money to develop both the human and physical resources of the reservation. So, now the tribe is less dependent on the Federal government.” Smith explained the BIA budget, saying, “Today, broad reductions in federal spending are required to halt runaway inflation and interest rates. Indian tribes and tribal leaders must begin to work more with the private sector and to focus on economic deveopment projects that are profitable. Those projects must be self- sustaining and consequently beneficial oyer the long-term. The era of easy, uncritical funding from the federal government is past. And we ought not to regret the end of band aid economic strategies and quick fixes that didn’t really help our reservations. Most programs were a detriment. “This adminstration has not cut the funding of BIA programs to work with the tribes in the management of trust resources, including your timber resources. We are very conscious of the trust responsibility to protect and enhance these resources, a responsibility we will not abdicate. Our budget request for fiscal year 1983 for forest d e v e lo p m e n t a n d p r o te c tio n , fo re s t management inventory and planning and other related programs is slightly higher than the 1982 funding. The 1983 budget request also includes two new line items designed to further Indian self-determination and economic development.” Smith explained the two proposed plans, one being a request for $5 million to assist small tribes to acquire basic management skills and abilities, and the other being a request for $10 million to be used as seed money to help tribes a ttr a c t p riv a te fu n d in g for econom ic development on their reservations. “We are going to have to pick and back winners, projects that produce lasting improvements in tribal economies, so we can ask Congress to do it again. We will keep politics out of these ventures. The size of the proposed venture or the size of the tribe will not be a real factor in our determination. If it’s a smoke shop o ra saw mill, a herd of cattle or a factory, the basic concern will profitability and long-term economic benefit to the tribe. Self-determination among Indian tribes is the policy adopted by the Reagan Administration. In a question and answer period following this speech. Smith was asked to explain the effects of the BIA reorganization will have on forestry programs. Smith said there will be six regional offices. He said that the forestry techinical assistance office will be located in Portland , because 70% of the tribes that have forestry resources are within the Portland Area Office jurisdiction. “Portland will be the center to provide technical assistance throughout the country.” National Congress of American Indians president Joe DeLaCruz, of Quinalt, also addressed problems presently plaguing tribes. It was his feeling that Indian tribes have fallen bv the wayside in the budget process. He stated that “it’s important for Indians to plan for the future. There are threats to our resources everywhere, in boards of directors, Congress, the present administration. Also, recognize the power of your tribal resources. Invent innovative approaches to overcome barriers and assume a more prominent place in the political system. Get out from under BIA and make your own decisions.” D eLaC ruz concluded, “ P erhaps w hat happens here will mark a new awareness for sophistication.” On the second day of the symposium, six organizations presented programs on their present forestry and business practices. Warm Springs timber committee chairman Allison David gave a slide presentation which showed different logging operations. on the Warm Springs reservation. The show also included the BIA forestry procedures, with slides showing the forestry warehouse and reforestation practices. Following the presentations, the group broke into a “role playing” session, entitled “What’s the Story?” There were three tribes, the “FIA,” a bank, a logging company and a radio station. Those particip atin g dealt with budget ap p ro p ria tio n s and oversight processes. Though the process was fun for alL serious undertones were brought out, such as low employment rates of tribal members, lack of communications between tribes and the bureau, dependency on the federal government and the bureau’s somewhat less-than-sensitive way in handling tribal timber resources. Separate workshops were held to discuss the costs and benefits of forestry investments, the analysis of the forestry budget and to discuss the trust responsibility—-a tribal perspective. Two of the workshops were summarized, the trust responsibility was not, due to its confusing nature. 1. A standard Bureauwide approach to similar forestry programs in the U.S. Forest forestry investment analysis should be Service, the BLM and private industry in spite of developed that includes specific guidance for a) recent add-ons. The bureau presently appears to add-on selecting the appropriate discount rate, make more efficient uses of their forestry funds b) estimating future prices and costs, and c) than of the other main land management dealing with non-timber costs and benefits. agencies. 2. The bureau should simplify forestry 5. The panel found that the continued late investment analysis by outlying procedures to passage of the bureau’s budget by Congress has express benefits, costsiand discount rates in real effectively reduced the period for actually terms—that is, in terms net of inflation. spending these funds to si^t months or less. They 3. Tradeoffs associated with management recommended the the BIA vigorously pursue the a lte rn a tiv e s, forestry in v estm en t, and search for a system by which a certain level of consideration of nontimber and cultural values add-on funds can be expended prior to actual should be identified using benefit-cost analysis allotment to agencies. 6. T he panel found that outside witness and qualitative procedures to aid in the decision making process. testimony by tribes is only effective in force of 4. The bureau and tribes should develop ways numbers. They recommended that the tribes, to encourage greater tribal involvement in the Inter-Tribal council and BIA attempt to select forest planning and management process one or two specific projects each year to support beginning with the identification of tribal forest by outside witness testimony and Bureau budget objectives. initiatives. 5. Provide orientation for new agency 7. The panel recommended that travel ceilings foresters in cultural heritage and values. be acknowledged as unreasonable constraint on 6. Hold workshops 6n reservations for tribal managers and be abolished. members so that BIA forestry and other 8. The panel found that the Bureau presently branches may provide information to the does not have adequate forest marketina and landowners. All levels of BIA forestry staff economic feasibility of timber sales. They recommended that the Bureau make a concerted should be encouraged to participate. effort to acquire this expertise and place it at the The second workshop summarized its findings lead region level where it can assist all tribes in as: 1. Tribal contributions to the overall forest determining future marketing possibilities. management effort, through use o f the 9. The panel found duplication of work on administration deduction from timber sales, has amounted to more than25% of the total effort. It certain projects. They recommended that tribes was recommended that the Bureau provide and and agencies work together to assign specific of work to each forestry staff in order to enforce clear and uniform administrative areas policies and procedures to protect the integrity avoid this duplication of effort. All recommendations will be presented to the of administrative deductions and therefore head of BIA forestry George Smith for forest management funds and assure efficiency consideration in the 1984 budget process. in their use. The Intertribal Timber Council elected its 2. The panel recommended that the Bureau officers while at the annual meeting. President is again clearly stipulate the use to which timber Gene Bell, from the Flathead reservation: vice sale administration add-on funds and positions may be put and enforce such stipulations. president is Mike Clements from Warm Springs; Further, that the bureau establish a frame work treasurer is Gary Morishima from the Quinault reservation and secretary is Steve Anderson to assure that a complète reporting is available from the Klinket. be on the uses and acfcomplishments of these 1 Luncheon speaker for the final day was funds. Western Timber Association vice president John 3. The panel found that no allowance for Keane of San Francisco. Keane said that the inflation has been made over the past six years. Annual Allowable Cut procedure is from The value of the dollars appropriated in terms of “medieval times and even when it was founded, it what they will buy has decreased substantially. was termed as disastrous.” He continued, saying, The panel recommended that the BIA “With pressure put on the federal government, vigorously pursue extension of the ten-year add the Annual Allowable Cut concept could be on to provide for completion of the forest dislodged.” Keane suggest that tribes “investigate liquid development program as envisioned in 1977. Also, they recommended that the BIA make fuels that forests can produce. We will see clear to Congress the impact which certain earthshaking development within the next six restrictions of the government have on the months. Also, explore the potential of export of continuity of the efforts to accomplish the task. the products your produce.” The seventh annual Timber Symposium is 4. The panel found that funding for the tentatively scheduled to be held in Missoula, forestry program is far behind funding for M n n t a n a A n r il IS thrnnnh 90 1 0 2 1 Workshop summaries recommended more Tribal/BIA interaction, better ROLE PLAYING—Those who attended the Timber Symposium were subjected to role playing during an afternoon of the meetings. Generally, BIA employees played tribal people and tribal communications people played BIA employees. I t was interesting, to say the least, to hear some of the comments that evolved from the dramatization. Recommendations from the cost and benefit of forestry management were: Spilyay Tymoo photos by Behrend and Miller Kimiko Danzuka outjumps Ft. Hall opponent Nationals challenge players by Julie Mitchell The Eighth annual National Indian Activities Association basketball tournament, held April 20-24, in Spokane was disappointing for some and satisfying for others. Thirty- two men’s and twenty-four women’s teams participated in or observed 104 scheduled games. Hosting this year’s tournament was the Colville Confederated Tribes. Past national tourneys have been held in Phoenix, Arizona; Talequah, Oklahoma and Ft. Duschene, Utah. The 1982 Men’s National champions are Vermillion, South Dakota. Past national tournament champions include Cherokee Renegades, and Lakota Track Club. To date, no team has dominated the national championship. Cluny,, Canada placed second and Osage Warriors of Pawhauska, O klahom a finished th ird , beating Santa Clara. Very few good players miss the big tournament, and this was no exception. The tallest player was without question, Dave Pocknett of the Lakota Coup Counters, at a height beyond 6'8", give or take an inch. An exceptional woman player was Babe Harroway of the Oklahoma Reds. Ms. H a rro w a y d e m o n s tr a te d m a tu rity and ex p erien ce necessary to lead her team to another NIAA championship. The second place Seminole teams time had come, since the two teams battle with some regularity in Oklahoma. Our own Bravettes appeared in the same bracket as such well established teams as Seminole, S o u th e r C a lifo rn ia , an d Continued on page 10 If f| a S S B . z ' fiL '; z jjjjjgjjgjHB | gfe « Austin Greene scores in win against Sarcee, Canada
