Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
August 25, 2021
Page 7
Chuck Sams nominated to lead Parks Service
C harles ‘Chuck’ Sams III is
set to become the first Native
American to serve as director of
the National Parks Service. Mr.
Sams, member of the Umatilla,
is of Cayuse, Walla, Cocopah and
Yankton descent.
Pres. Biden nominated Sams
last week to lead the National
Parks. The nomination now goes
to the U.S. Senate for confirma-
tion. As Kat Brigham, Chair of
the Umatilla Board of Trustees,
commented on Sams’ nomination
and anticipated Congressional ap-
proval:
“This is an historical moment
for America, and a monumental
milestone for tribal people
throughout Indian Country,” she
said.
For years now, Mr. Sams has
had friends and colleagues among
Whitman College/Underscore.news
Chuck Sams teaching Whitman College students in 2018.
The topic was the Treaties of 1855, and tribal history.
the Confederated Tribes of Warm
Springs. Natural Resources gen-
eral manager Robert Brunoe has
known him for many years, hav-
Court again in favor of Yakama
The Ninth Circuit Court of
Appeals last week denied a re-
quest by Klickitat County,
Washington, for a rehearing in
the case involving the bound-
ary of the Yakama Reserva-
tion.
In an earlier unanimous de-
cision in June, the NinthCircuit
Court ruled that the 1.4-million
acre Yakama Reservation in-
cludes a parcel known as Tract
D.
The land was set aside by
treaty more than 150 years ago
in recognition of its impor-
tance to the tribe and its citi-
zens.
“The Ninth Circuit’s decision
is a resounding victory for the
rights that our ancestors re-
served in the Treaty of 1855,”
Chairman Delano Saluskin said
at the time.
Tract D consists of 121,465
acres in the southwestern part
of the reservation.
It
includes
land
near Mount Adams—one of
the most sacred places for the
Yakama Nation—that tribal
ancestors recognize as critical
for food, water and other re-
sources.
“Both parties to the treaty
joined together to protect the
Yakama Reser vation from
Klickitat County’s challenge, and
we are thankful the Ninth Cir-
cuit honored the treaty parties’
common understanding,”
Saluskin said.
ing first met Mr. Sams in the ‘90s
through the Salmon Corps program.
Antone Minthorn, a Nez Perce
language speaker for the Umatilla
tribal Education Department, com-
mented that Sams is the “right per-
son, on the cutting edge” of con-
servation efforts throughout Indian
Country.
“It’s significant. It’s timely,”
Minthorn said of the nomination.
“I think Chuck really comes
from a place where there’s been a
lot of activity with the tribes’
growth. He knows the importance
of our treaty rights, and has been
instrumental in our efforts to re-
store water, restore salmon and
build our economy.”
Besides his work with the
Umatilla tribes, Sams has worked
in state government and nonprofit
natural resource and conservation
management for more than 25
years. He and his wife Lori live in
Pendleton. The Sams have four
children.
School BBQ
next Tuesday
The Back to School Barbe-
cue is coming up on Thursday,
September 2.
The Back to School Bar-
becue and supplies giveaway
usually draws over 1,000 visi-
tors. This year the event, at the
Academy, will not be in the re-
stricted drive-by fashion, as it
had to be last year; though the
Confederated Tribes’ covid
safety protocols still appy.
The barbecue is a great out-
reach
opportunity
for
deparetments, programs and
organizations. For information
see the website:
forms.gle/TcaUoAx6CdUr
45158
Email me if you have any
questions:
reina.estimo@wstribes.org