U.S. Postage
Bulk Rate Permit No. 2
Warm Springs, OR 9776!
s'Kl,t.s),,T
KNif ; rr i .m r a i v
ymoo
(Coyote News)
News from the Warm Springs Indian Reservation
35 cents
P.O. nox 870
Warm Springs, OR 9776 1
Change Service Requested
JAN. 11,2001 f
Spilyay T
The Integrated Resources Man
agement Plan (IRMP) for the Forested
Area will expire at the end of this
year. Tribal Council made the plan
tribal law in 1992 by passing Ordi
nance 74, which also established the
plan's 10-year timeframe.
During the past several months,
the IRMP team has been working to
develop an updated plan. Meetings
have been held with the tribal public,
committees and Tribal Council to
gather their opinions regarding for
est management.
Committee members and indi
vidual tribal members provided a
good deal of input on the revision to
IRMP I. All of the questions that arose
during public meetings were an
swered at the time they were asked.
Several staff members were present
during each of the meetings, so em
ployees with expertise in all of the
resource fields were on hand to an
swer questions.
All of the comments and ques
tions that were submitted in writing,
or provided orally during one of the
meetings were written down and re
viewed by the IRMP technical team.
The comments were then categorized
and later condensed. A few of the
comments came up on repeated oc
casions throughout the planning pro
cess. They are listed below and ac
companied by responses from the
technical team.
Comment- Stop clear-cutting.
In a technical sense clear-cuts are
no longer being prescribed on the
Warm Springs Reservation. Clear
cuts, seed trees, and shelterwoods (re
generation harvests) are methods
used to harvest the majority of mer
chantable trees within a stand, and to
start new stands. Each of these meth
ods leaves a different number of ma
The Museum At Warm Springs
invites you to attend the opening
reception of the
"Tribal Youth Creations'
An exhibit of artwork from
Warm Springs Tribal Youth
Thursday, January 1 1, 2001
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
in the Changing Exhibits Gallery
IRMP for forested area to
1 .-.'""
-i
r
Forested land
ture trees on the site to provide seed,
shelter and shade. The reason for har
vesting most of the timber in a single
harvest is to generate income, and
treat disease, insect infestations, or
stands that are not growing up to their
potential. The number of trees per
acre that are left depends on the quan
tity, species and placement of healthy
trees present in the stand prior to har
vest. When prescribing treatments the
primary objective is to provide a
healthy environment for the next
stand of trees. When a forester visits
a timber stand recommended for har
vest, they must evaluate the site and
the stand conditions. If the stand is
heavily diseased, the appropriate
treatment would be to leave the few
trees not affected by the disease. This
is generally called a seed tree (3-9
mature trees per acre left standing).
However, if there are several
uninfected trees, then more trees will
be left and the treatment would be
classified as a shelterwood (10 to 25
trees per acre left standing).
In the past, clear-cutting was the
primary prescription for regeneration
harvest. Harvest was followed by a
broadcast burn and then the area was
planted. Tribal member comments
opposed to clear-cutting led the For
estry Branch to leave some overstory
trees, habitat clumps, and patches of
young saplings.
Comment - Listen to tribal
members.
The IRMP planning. team has
made a special effort to gather tribal
member comments and incorporate
them into the updated plan. A 60-day
scoping period that began August 5,
1999 initiated the process. Posters
were circulated throughout commu
nity areas and public notice was
served through the Spilyay Tymoo
newspaper and KWSO radio station.
Three meetings were held in the fall
of 1999 at the longhouses, the team
set up an informational booth at the
1999 and 2000 Christmas bazaars,
and in the spring of 2000 a series of
meetings were held at the Senior Cen
ter to gather input from tribal elders.
The team then conducted several
meetings to gather more input from
tribal members at their place of work
and a subsequent series of breakfast
meetings was held at the Fire Man
agement building to gather input on
issues, goals, objectives and stan
dards. When all of the comments were
compiled, the team reviewed them
and a number of changes were made
to the draft plan, including standards
for riparian zones, firewood cutting
and culturally significant species.
Comment - Consider tradition
as well as science.
Many of the resource manage
ment goals that guide the Natural
Resources and Forestry branches are
based on cultural beliefs of the local
people, including the practices of har
vesting only what is needed and pro
viding for future generations. Much
of the cultural integrity of the Warm
Springs Confederated Tribes is main
tained through the gathering and use
of natural materials. Cultural plants,
for example, are used for food, fiber
and medicine. Current use and fore
seeable demand for cultural plants is
expected to increase due to popula
tion growth, shrinking habitat for the
plants, and increased tribal interest in
cultural heritage. It is important that
we manage wisely and take cultural
considerations into account. The
IRMP team consults with the Culture
and Heritage Committee on a wide
variety of issues and the team spon-
Chinook salmon returns
Spring Chinook salmon re
turned to the Warm Springs River in
record numbers this year. The wild
return of spingers was 2,705 as of
October 1, shattering the previous
modern record of 1,867 set in 1990.
Almost all of the wild fish that
entered the Warm Springs were al
lowed to pass upstream of the hatch
ery and access their natural spawn
ing grounds. Hatchery personnel
passed 2,630 of the wild adults and
kept the remaining 75 for artificial
propogation.
Warm Springs National Fish
Hatchery also welcomed a bumper
crop of adult spring chinook that were
raised at the facility and released as
juveniles. A total of 6,745 hatchery
fish had made it back to the facility
by October, topping the previous
expire
n
1
. sored meetings at the Senior Center
to gather input on resource manage
ment from tribal elders. One example
of Forestry's effort to consider tradi
tional uses is evidenced in the prac
tice of harvesting high-elevation tim
ber over snow to protect huckleberry
plants.
Comment- Why not cut
firewood year around?
The proposal to establish seasons
for firewood cutting is based on wild
life and environmental concerns. For
the benefit of wildlife, both birds and
big game, we have restrictions regard
ing travel and access from Novem
ber 1 thru April 30. Many species
are mating or producing offspring
during this sensitive time, so precau
tions are taken to protect the animals.
Alternatives the staff has considered
include providing access to current
timber sales where firewood would
be available, and hauling logs to the
community area for tribal members
to cut. The IRMP team has a sub
group that is reviewing this issue and
exploring potential alternatives for
firewood gathering.
Comment Enforce standards.
The IRMP team has tried to make
the definition of a standard clear.
Enforcement of standards for profes
sional staff is carried out through the
chain of command, from resource
managers up through the Natural Re
sources General manager and the
Chief Operating Officer. Contractors
are held accountable by the Forestry
Branch, which has the authority to
enforce terms of the contract, includ
ing provisions to abide by IRMP stan
dards. Private individuals can be held
accountable for violations to IRMP
standards through pertinent tribal
codes, law enforcement and the tribal
court.
Continued on page 2
standard of 2,538 set in 1989.
As a result of the record run,
5,6 1 2 hatchery fish were provided to
the Confederated Tribes for consump
tion. Another 159 fish were trans
ported to Shitike Creek, where they
were released to spawn naturally.
Round Butte Hatchery, which did not
have a good year, received 159 fish
and the remainder of the hatchery run
was kept for Warm Springs hatchery
brood stock.
Employees at the Warm
Springs hatchery said the record run
w as the product of favorable environ
mental conditions and a group effort
locally. They said the Fish and Wild
life Committee. Salmon Corps, fire
crews and Natural Resources staff all
contributed to this year's successful
run.
Tribal Council approves 2001 budget
Tribal Council's recent decision
to approve a $26,164,874 budget for
2001 includes directives to find new
sources of revenue, achieve perma
nent base reductions in the budget,
and streamlining of tribal govern
ment. The $ 1.1 million in upcoming
budget cuts will include reductions in
tribal government programs and ser
vices, and a reduction in the number
of Tribal Council committees.
Economic hardships brought
about by a weak timber market and
uncertain prices for hydro-electric
power have forced tribal administra
tors to re-evaluate current conditions
and the size of the workforce. Tribal
Council is asking government depart
ments and programs to improve effi
ciency and downsize operations to
reflect anticipated revenues.
To insure the target of $1.1 mil
lion in budget cuts is achieved on a
permanent basis all vacant positions
nave been "frozen" and the hiring of
permanent staff has been suspended,
unless prior approval has been ob
tained. In addition, 5 percent of ev
ery budget unit will be set aside until
a permanent reduction strategy and
action plan are implemented.
"This next year will be a chal
lenging one," said Secretary-Trea
ITA President
Mike Clements, General Man
ager of the Business Economic De
velopment branch was elected presi
dent of the Intertribal Transportation
Association (ITA) in Las Vegas, Ne
vada on December 6, 2000. The presi
dency is a two-year term and works
in conjunction with a fifteen (15)
member board of tribal representa
tives across the United States.
The Intertribal Transporta
tion Association is a non-profit 501
(3) corporation incorporated in the
State of Oregon. The association s
office and personnel are located in
Stillwater, Oklahoma under the direc
tion of Executive Director, David
McKinney. The association was
formed in 1993 at a meeting in Den
ver, Colorado. The Articles of Orga
nization and By-Laws were finalized
and filed with the State of Oregon in
February 1994. The purpose of the
organization is to foster the develop
ment, operation and maintenance of
transportation systems of American
Indian Tribes. All federally recog
nized tribes are eligible to join the
association's general membership by
paying a one hundred dollar ($100)
fee. At present, the association has
Stabbing under
The Warm Springs Police De
partment in conjunction with the Fed
eral Bureau of Investigation is con
ducting an investigation into the stab
bing and resulting serious injury of a
Burns Paiute man. On January 3,
2001 at about 7:50 p.m. officers and
detectives stopped a vehicle that was
reported to have a stabbing victim on
board. David J. Peck, 29 of burns was
taken to Mountain View Hospital
where he was stabilized and flown by
The Museum set
January and February education
opportunities at The Museum at
Warm Springs are designed for the
general public and for Tribal Mem
bers. On "no school days" students
and their parents are invited to par
ticipate in designing and making Gift
Cards with a January 1 5 workshop on
Drawing, following on January 26
with a Calligraphy class. Everyone
will have Gift Cards to take home
when the classes are completed. On
February 19, the Presidents Holiday,
the class will be on Beaded Dream
Catchers. All of these classes are 9-4
at The Museum. The Museum pro
vides all the supplies.
5 he Jledchedided Jlbd Warm Springs Pageant
2001 will fa held Friday,, Zefauary 16, 2001 at
5:00 pm. at the Qgency onghouse,
Dinner will fellow, the pageant.
3here will Be cash and gifts fox JUss Warm
Springs. She age requirement is 18 to. 24 years
old. $hb age limit will enaMe JUss Waxm
Spring to- participate in other royalty, pageants
such as Jliss Jttdian World and Jliss A'QCU.
surer Charles Jackson. "We are con
fident, however, that by working to
gether we can fairly and responsibly
implement the Tribal Council's direc
tion in a manner that minimizes any
financial hardship for tribal members
and lays the groundwork for preserv
ing the tribe's financial health over
the longer term."
Teams of general managers, di
rectors and other staff have been ap
pointed to explore avenues for im
proving efficiency. These teams are
expected to develop strategies and
action plans that will meet budget
objectives by generating new rev
enues, downsizing government and
making profitable new investments.
The teams are currently explor
ing potential reductions in Tribal
Council committee expenditures, an
increase in the fee charged for fish
ing permits, economic development
opportunities, a lodging tax at Kah-Nee-Ta
Resort, a plan for tribal con
struction to bid on off-reservation
projects, an early retirement plan, and
the potential of obtaining additional
outside funding for tribal government
programs, to name a few.
Presentations of team findings
will be made to Tribal Council
throughout the first quarter of 2001.
elected
seventy-eight (78) member tribes and
is looking to grow in the coming years
with the enactment of the newly
implemented Transportation Equity
Act for the 2 1 Century. Th is act pro
vides the opportunity for many tribes
and Indian communities to start get
ting involved with transportation pro
grams. I
The new president says, "I
am proud to be elected into this hon
orary role." Clements states it took the
support of his supervisor (Jody
Calica), Tribal Council action, and his
family to support his candidacy. "It
is an honor to represent our DeoDle
and Tribal Organization in leading a
national organization such as ITA."
Some of Mike's personal goals are to
help the Confederated Tribes of
Warm Springs and it's people, and
Indian people in Indian Country, to
sustain themselves and their commu
nities. This is one way he believes our
tribe and he himself can help contrib
ute positively to the needs of Indian
people around the country. Mike says
he looks forward to working with the
people in the association in the days
to come.
investigation
Air Life to St. Charles Medical Cen
ter. On January 5, Mr. Peck was taken
into to custody by the United States
Marshals Service for an outstanding
federal warrant and transported by
ambulance to an undisclosed location
for further treatment of his injuries.
The suspect in the stabbing, Barbie
Jackson, 20, of Warm Springs, was
taken into custody at the scene and
lodged in the Warm Springs jail. The
investigation continues.
education classes
Tribal Members are invited to
participate in a class on Corn Husk
Bag Weaving on every Monday and
Tuesday in January, 5-9 p.m. taught
by Rosalind Sampson. In the first
week of February, 5-9 p.m. Martinez
Charles will teach a course on Bustles
including making them new, repairs
and reconstruction. These classes are
only open to Tribal Members.
Fees for classes are $30 for non
museum members, $25 for members
of The Museum and $20 for Tribal
members who get an addition 10 per
cent if they are Museum members.
For information on becoming a Mu
seum Member, call Rosalind
Sampson at 553-3331.