Spilyay Tymoo
Coyote News, est. 1976
July 19, 2017 - Vol. 42, No. 15
July – Pat’ak-Pt’akni – Summer - Shatm
One recent project for the
Natural Resources team was
a trip to Willamette Falls for
eeling. The group collected
more than 1,400 eels. These
will be shared with elders and
others in the community.
Carl Tewee, Kathryce
Danzuka and Josh Olney
(from left on the rocks) were
part of the team, pictured
here with a tribal Fisheries
worker collecting eels in a
pool at the falls.
Courtesy KWSO/Carina Miller
Funding proposal for CP Enterprise
Tribal Council took a step last
week toward financing the Cannabis
Project, or CP Enterprise. The next
important step will be the General
Council meeting set for Monday
evening, July 24.
In a narrow vote last week,
Tribal Council approved the forma-
tion of Warm Springs Financial
Strategies, a limited liability corpo-
ration wholly owned by the tribes.
The sole purpose of Financial
Strategies LLC is to provide financ-
ing for membership-approved capi-
tal improvements and economic
development, such as CP Enter-
prise. As will be discussed at the
General Council, funding would be
in the amount of $3 million.
The money comes through
Warm Springs Ventures and
GeoVisions, as generated by the
carbon sequestration project. Car-
bon sequestration will net the
tribes more than $10 million over
a term of years, according to Ven-
tures’ estimate.
For CP Enterprise the self-
funding option eliminates the need
to give an outside entity an owner-
ship or revenue share in the
project. In time, as the enterprise
generates its own revenue, the $3
million would be paid back to the
tribes.
The referendum in late 2015
asked whether the Confederated
Tribes should “allow, regulate and
operate an on-reservation, tribally
owned cannabis cultivation and ex-
traction facility….” The vote was
1,252 in favor to 198 against; or
about 86 percent in favor.
Carrying out the mandate has
proven to be a challenge. At first
the tribes focused on necessary
work with the state legislature and
regulatory commission, the U.S.
Attorney’s Office and BIA. Ven-
tures and Tribal Council then es-
tablished the tribal Cannabis Com-
mission, and on-reservation regu-
latory documents.
For the past year the obstacle
has been financing. A partnership
option is not in the tribes’ best in-
terest: This would send up to half
of the revenue off the reserva-
tion, said Don Sampson, Ventures
chief executive officer.
The language of the referen-
dum would also seem to preclude
an outside entity owning a part of
CP Enterprise. The way to carry
out the referendum, then, is for
the tribes to finance the project.
In funding the CP Enterprise,
the carbon sequestration revenue
would be invested in economic
development and new revenue,
Mr. Sampson said. The pro-
cess involves a supplemental
budget, subject of the July 24
General Council meeting.
The process also required the
formation of Warm Springs Fi-
nancial Strategies LLC. By reso-
lution (see page 7) Tribal Coun-
cil approved the Financial Strat-
egies articles of organization,
and operating agreement.
At first the Council vote was
two in favor, two against, and
two abstain. Tribal Council Vice
Chairman Jody Calica then
broke the tie in favor of the
resolution. His vote was to
carry out the mandate of the
2015 referendum, and respect
the vote of the membership,
Mr. Calica said.
(See CP ENTERPRISE on 5)
Range benefits from horse removal
The deer and elk populations
on the reservation have improved
in recent years, as the range habi-
tat, especially winter range, has
improved. This is a direct result
of the Natural Resources Range
and Ag horse removal program.
Range and Ag began horse re-
moval in 2001, when there were
almost 7,000 horses on the reser-
vation. There are now about
3,500, approaching a manageable
number, said Jason Smith, Range
and Ag director.
Mr. Smith and Natural Re-
sources general manager Bobby
Brunoe reported last week to
Tribal Council on horse removal.
This will be the last year of the
official program, though there will
be an ongoing effort to keep the
horse population under control,
ECR WSS
Postal Patron
U.S. Postage
PRSRT STD
Warm Springs, OR 97761
509-J board
hopes to
keep MHS
JROTC
The Natural Resources
Branch hired five youth to
work on projects through the
summer.
Seven more young people,
part of the Native Aspirations
program, are also working
with Natural Resources this
summer, supervised by Javin
Dimmick and Lana Leonard.
Buffy Hurtado is the
coordinator of the Native
Aspirations, a program of the
Health and Human Services
Branch.
General Council
to discuss plan
PO Box 489
Warm Springs, OR 97761
Courtesy Range & Ag
This photo is from a few years ago: The problem of large roaming
herds of range horses has diminished through the removal program.
Smith said.
Range and Ag will work with the
reservation grazing groups to main-
tain control of the horse numbers,
he said.
Since 2011, Range and Ag has
removed an average of more than
1,000 horses per year, for a total
of about 7,300 removals. This not
only brought the herd numbers
down, but also prevented an es-
calation in the horse population.
Wild herds can increase in
population from 10 to 25 percent,
depending on conditions. Without
the horse removal program, 2017
would have seen a reservation
horse population of 15,000, in-
creasing to more than 21,000
by 2020, according to projec-
tions. This would have con-
sumed and otherwise destroyed
winter-range habitat for deer
and elk.
“Since the horse removal
program began the Wildlife De-
partment has seen the vegeta-
tion improve in areas where
there has been substantial horse
removal, especially in the Mut-
ton Mountains,” said Andrea
Karoglanian, tribal wildlife bi-
ologist.
“The horse removal pro-
gram is very beneficial to the
deer and elk populations, and
is one essential part needed to
improve wildlife populations on
the reservation.”
(See HORSES on 5)
The Jefferson County School
District 509-J board and school of-
ficials hope to continue the Madras
High School Junior Reserve Offic-
ers Training Corps program.
The board and new superinten-
dent Ken Parshall heard testimony
from the public on the JROTC pro-
gram on Monday evening of this
week.
The meeting room was at capac-
ity for this topic in particular. Many
in attendance were military veter-
ans. All those who spoke were very
much in favor of finding a way to
continue the high school JROTC
program next year.
Board members themselves are
in favor of the program as well.
School district board member Laurie
Danzuka, for instance, has a son in
the JROTC program.
(Please see JROTC on 10)
Native Sol
adds to
solar eclipse
Native Aspirations and Health
and Human Services have been
working on plans for a three-day
event for the August 21 solar eclipse.
The Native Sol Solar Eclipse Fest
would be August 19-21 at the grassy
area behind the Family Resource
Center, in front of the Behavioral
Health Center.
There will be live music perfor-
mances, with DJ K9 playing music
during intermissions. Food and mer-
chandise vendors are already sign-
ing up with Native Aspirations.
There will be family activities
throughout the three days. For in-
formation you can reach the pro-
gram at 541-615-0144; or stop by
the Family Resource Center. Here
is the agenda so far for the Native
Sol Solar Eclipse Fest:
Saturday, August 19: Vendors
open in the morning. Tribal exhibi-
tion dancers, family games and
prizes in the afternoon; and live
music by Blue Flamez in the late
afternoon.
The agenda for Saturday is simi-
lar with live music by Kelly Jackson
in the late afternoon. Then on Mon-
day morning, August 21, there will
be the eclipse followed by a pow-
wow.
Some further details, as provided
by Reina Estimo at Native Aspira-
tions: Vendors need to register and
pay a $30 vendor fee. Vendors can
register in person at the Family Re-
source Center, or email:
Reina.estimo@wstribes.org
No camping will be allowed. No
campfires or fireworks. This is a
drug- and alcohol-free event.