Page 8
Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
May 8, 2019
Tribes, partners add to river habitat preserve
T he
Confederated
Tribes of the Warm Springs
Reservation are now the cus-
todians of an additional
1,200 acres of critical habi-
tat along the Middle Fork
John Day River.
The tribes, through the
Branch of Natural Re-
sources, acquired the prop-
erty through a land transac-
tion with The Nature Con-
servancy.
The property—now
called the Dunstan Home-
stead Preserve—includes
critical fish and wildlife habi-
tat. The land will remain un-
der perpetual protection and
stewardship, through the
partnership among the
tribes and Natural Re-
sources, the Nature Conser-
vancy, and the Bonneville
Power Administration.
The Dunstan Homestead
Preserve is in the upper
reaches of the Middle Fork
John Day River—at the
heart of Chinook salmon
spawning and rearing terri-
tory.
The river’s wide valley
bottoms, gentle gradient and
multiple side channels sup-
port one of the state’s
healthiest populations of
wild spring Chinook salmon.
The property consists of
nearly 3.5 miles of river
frontage, with riparian and
upland habitats of Ponde-
rosa pine, mixed conifer for-
Courtesy CTWS - BNR
Big Boulder Creek's confluence with the Middle Fork John Day
... Nearly 3,000
acres of important
fish and wildlife
habitat are now
permanently protected
along the Middle
Fork John Day.
ests, savannah and open
meadows.
This diverse property
provides important habitat
for many of the area’s na-
tive aquatic and forest spe-
cies.
The Nature Conser-
vancy purchased the
Dunstan Preserve in 1990
from the Dunstan family,
who had owned the land
since 1899.
For years, the Nature
Conservancy has worked
collaboratively with neigh-
bors, local partners and the
tribes to restore habitat and
advance research, monitor-
ing and land management
on the property and sur-
rounding area.
With the addition of the
Dunstan Preserve to the
tribes’ existing properties—
also purchased in partner-
ship with BPA—nearly
3,000 acres of important
fish and wildlife habitat are
now permanently protected
along the Middle Fork John
Day.
Oxbow project
For a decade the tribes
have worked to restore a
dredge-mined section of the
river on their Oxbow Con-
servation Area, just up-
stream of Dunstan.
The tribes are also restor-
ing degraded habitat on the
Forrest property, also about
10 miles upstream of
Dunstan.
“Our Oxbow and
Forrest properties already
represent half of the river’s
Chinook salmon spawning
habitat,” said Bobby
Brunoe, general manager
of the tribes Branch of
Natural Resources.
“The Dunstan adds an-
other 10 percent,” he said.
“The Nature Conser-
vancy and tribes have been
steady partners for years,
and their generosity with the
Dunstan transaction has
been great for the Tribes
and salmon.”
Under the tribal ownership
and stewardship, the focus
remains on preserving the
rich habitats while allowing
regulated public access, in-
cluding limited hunting.
“That’s why the transfer
was such a natural fit,” Mr.
Brunoe said.
Jim Desmond, Oregon di-
rector for the Nature Con-
servancy, adds:
“The Nature Conser-
vancy is grateful and honored
to have collaborated with the
Confederated Tribes of
Warm Springs and BPA for
over 20 years for river con-
servation along the Middle
Fork John Day. This collabo-
rative partnership is a great
example of how working to-
gether can accomplish great
things and is a success for the
fish, wildlife and people that
call this area home.”
Scott Armentrout, BPA
executive vice president for
Environment—Fish and
Wildlife, adds:
“We are excited about
what has been accomplished
with the tribes, the Nature
Conservancy and other part-
ners to further protect and
restore important habitat in
this ecologically diverse re-
gion. This is another example
of how strategically invested
ratepayer funds can help
Bonneville fulfill its mitigation
responsibilities and leave a
lasting impact on the region.”
Discovery Center to feature artwork of Apolonia Susana Santos
T he artwork and vision of
the atwai Apolonia Susana
Santos will feature at the
Columbia Gorge Discovery
Center and Museum.
The exhibit—Woman of
Vision: Artwork by Apolonia
Susana Santos ~ 1954-2006—
opens on Friday, May 31.
An opening reception
starts at 5:30. Drumming
and the blessing begin at
6:15.
Artist Cheri Hyde will i
introduce the new exhibit.
There is no charge for pre-
viewing the exhibit, light ap-
petizers and talk.
An optional dinner will be
served in the cafe at 6:45 for
a purchase price of $16.
Please RSVP by May 29.
The new exhibit will run
through December. For in-
formation, visit:
gorgediscovery.org
Apolonia Susana Santos
As a painter, sculptor, and
writer, Ms. Santos was dedi-
cated to interpreting the rich
legacy of her Native people.
She was also a tireless ad-
vocate for the rights of in-
digenous children and tribal
fishing.
Her artwork is a vibrant
depiction of the Native
world using rich colors to
create dynamic landscapes
and a deep narrative that il-
luminates historic and con-
temporary memories.
Apolonia’s untimely pass-
ing at age 52 left a void in
the world of Native Ameri-
can art.
Though small in stature,
she stood large in life as she
painted, sculpted and created
strategies toward social
change for Native Youth.
She fought diligently to
protect traditional fishing
and sovereignty rights of her
People.
Apolonia Susana’s paint-
ditional dress always has a
contemporary flair.
Her desire to preserve
Indigenous ways and
memory is apparent in her
artwork and her activism.
Center and museum
Gathering at Full Moon by Apolonia Susana Santos.
ings and serigraphs often
contain the dramatic and di-
verse landscape and sky of
the high desert.
Snowstorms and the el-
ements of wind, water, sun
and moon appear with vigor.
Her artistic interpretation
of salmon, coyote and big
horn sheep express how
strongly she was connected to
her homelands.
Her interpretation of Na-
tive women and men in tra-
The Columbia Gorge Dis-
covery Center and Museum
is the official interpretive
center for the Columbia
River Gorge National Sce-
nic Area. Open daily 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
Hands-on, multi-media
exhibits illuminate the cul-
tural and natural history of
the Gorge, including Ice
Age geology, Native Ameri-
can culture, Lewis and
Clark, the Oregon Trail,
trade, transportation, renew-
able energy, ecology, live
raptor presentations.
The museum is wheel-
chair accessible, and family
friendly, with a Kids Ex-
plorer room.
Riverfront Trail offers
hiking and biking, and a na-
tive plant nature trail circles
the pond next to the mu-
seum.
The Discovery Center is
located off I-84 exit 82, at
5000 Discovery Drive, The
Dalles. Live raptor presen-
tations are held daily, 11 a.m.
and 2 p.m. most days in high
season; weekends only dur-
ing the low season. The
schedule may vary to ac-
commodate tour groups, so
call ahead to verify times if
you are planning your day
around the raptor presenta-
tion. The Columbia River
Trading Company museum
store is open daily. For more
information, phone 541-
296-8600 ext. 201, or:
gorgediscovery.org.