Resort: Tribes’ concern for future of groundwater
Some tribal concerns
are the fate of region’s
water and fisheries, and
lack of tribal input
(from page 1)
“This decision dishonors Warm
Springs’s constitutionally recog-
nized 1855 Treaty, which guaran-
tees our rights to enough water to
sustain our people and fish,” said
Tribal Council Chairman Dennis
White III.
“The plain and simple fact is
we were not consulted about our
people’s resources, and our tribal
ecological knowledge continues to
be ignored. That is not how gov-
ernments show mutual respect for
each other.”
Central Oregon is at a pro-
jected high risk for drought and
low ground water supplies.
The Thornburgh Resort
would be allowed to pump up-
wards of 1,460 acre-feet of wa-
ter per year.
The Thornburg Resort would be
a 1,970-acre destination resort near
Redmond, with a planned 950 lots,
425 lodging units, and amenities like
golf courses, a sports center and
parks.
The Deschutes County board
has also determined that future
groundwater permits should not
be necessary, though a new pub-
lic process would be triggered
should Thornburgh decide to
modify its existing groundwater
rights.
On the Tribal Council August agenda
The following are some of the
items coming up on the Tribal
Council agenda for the rest of the
month of August (subject to
change at Council discretion):
Wednesday, August 6—Com-
mittee reports:
9 a.m.: Range and Ag Commit-
tee.
10: Culture and Heritage.
11: Water Board.
1:30 p.m.: Fish and Wildlife
Committee—Off Reservation.
2:30: Fish and Wildlife Com-
mittee—On Reservation.
3:30: Education Committee.
Monday, August 11
9 a.m.: Council priorities dis-
cussion with Warm Springs Power
and Water Enterprises.
Tuesday, August 12
9 a.m.: Council priorities dis-
cussion with Warm Springs Power
and Water Enterprises.
Wednesday, August 13
9 a.m.: Investment Advisory
Committee update.
1:30 p.m.: Water 101 with tribal
attorneys.
Thursday, August 14:
Tribal Council
summaries
July 21, 2025
The meeting was called to order
by Chairman Dennis White III. Roll
call: Lincoln Jay Suppah, Chairman
Dennis White III, Raymond Captain
Moody, Jonathan W. Smith, Sr., Alvis
Smith III, Brigette McConville,
Lonnie Rosie Tom, Carlos Calica,
Chief Joseph Moses. Minnie Yahtin,
Recorder.
Invocation given by Chief
Greene.
Introduction of Edward
Henderson, new Secretary-Trea-
surer/CEO.
· August Agenda with S-T Edward
Henerson and Robert Brunoe:
Motion by Captain approving the
August Agenda. Second by Brigette.
Question: Rosie/yes, Captain/yes,
Jay/yes, Jonathan/yes, Alvis/yes,
Jefferson/yes, Brigette/yes, Carlos/
yes, 8/0/0, Chairman not voting.
Motion carried.
· Draft Resolutions with the S-
T and Robert Brunoe:
· Request for Limited Waiver of
Sovereign Immunity for National
Telecomom and Infor mation
AgencyA/Tribal Broadband Con-
nectivity Program grant, Telecom:
Motion by Brigette adopting
Resolution No. 13,255, approving
items #1-#3. Second by Rosie.
Question: Captain/yes, Jay/yes,
Jonathan/yes, Alvis/yes, Jefferson/
yes, Brigette/yes, Carlos/yes, 8/0/
0, Chairman not voting. Motion
carried.
· Tribal Hunting and Trapping
Code, Branch of Natural Resources:
Motion by Alvis adopting Reso-
lution No. 13,256, that the 2025
CTWS Reservation Hunting Regu-
lations are adopted as provided in
the attached recommendation from
the BNR and the Fish & Wildlife
Committee approval of Reserva-
tion regulations on July 1, 2025. Sec-
ond by Carlos, with amendments.
Question: Rosie/yes, Joe/yes, Cap-
tain/no, Jonathan/yes, Alvis/yes,
Agency District Pre-Budget meet-
ing at the Agency Longhouse, din-
ner at 6 p.m. and meeting at 7.
Monday, August 18
9 a.m.: Early Childhood Edu-
cation compliance discussion with
Cheryl Tom and Reona Trimble.
10: Youth Council.
11: Capital funds update with
Ed Henderson, S-T; and Pam Dou-
glas, Finance.
1:30 p.m.: Successor program
update with William Sam, Human
Resources.
2:30: Pi-Ume-Sha reports.
Tuedsay, August 19
9 a.m.: Secretary-Treasurer up-
date.
10: September agenda, review
minutes.
11: Draft resolutions with the
S-T.
1:30 p.m.: Enrollments with
Lucille Suppach-Samson, Vital
Stats.
2:30: Indian Health Services
update with Tammy Wilson.
3:30: Health and Human Ser-
vices with Taw Foltz.
Jefferson/no, Brigette/yes, Carlos/
yes, 7/2/0, Chairman not voting;
Motion carried.
· 2026 Specialty Hunt Auction
Tag with Branch of Natural Re-
sources:
Motion by Alvis adopting Resolu-
tion No. 13,257, that the 2026 spe-
cialty hunt public auction tag are ap-
proved as recommended by BNR and
the Fish & Wildlife Committees. Call
for a Second. Second by Jonathan.
Question: Rosie/yes, Joe/yes, Cap-
tain/no, Jay/no, Jonathan/yes, Alvis/
yes, Jefferson/yes, Brigette/yes,
Carlos/yes, 7/2/0, Chairman not
voting; Motion carried.
· Central Oregon Intergovern-
mental Council discussion with Rob-
ert Brunoe:
Motion by Captain adopting
Resolution No. 13,258, that the
Tribal Council hereby appoints
delegates as follows: 1. CTWS’
Council appoints Carlos Calica,
to serve as primary member of
COIC’s board of directors, and
that Brigette McConville, will
ser ve as an alternate member,
until his/her, or their successors
are appointed and qualified to
ser ve. Second by Alvis; Ques-
tion: Rosie/yes, Joe/yes, Cap-
tain/yes, Jay/yes, Jonathan/yes,
Alvis/yes,
Jefferson/yes,
Brigette/yes, Carlos/abstain, 9/
0/0, Chairman not voting, Mo-
tion carried.· Enrollments with
Teryl Florendo:
Motion by Alvis adopting Reso-
lution No. 13,259, enrolling four
individuals. Second by Carlos. Ques-
tion: Rosie/yes, Joe/yes, Captain/
yes, Jay/yes, Alvis/yes, Jefferson/
yes, Brigette/yes, Carlos/yes, 9/0/
0, Chairman not voting; Motion
carried.
· Indian Health Service update
with Tammy Wilson.
· Health and Human Services
update with Taw Foltz.
· Willamette Falls Trust update
with Brigette McConville.
Motion by Jonathan to adjourn
at 4:45. Second by Carlos.
More Summaries in next Spilyay
4:30: Managed Care update with
Mike Collins.
Monday, August 25
9 a.m.: Tribal member concerns.
1:30 p.m.: Policy Planning Com-
mittee, Chuck Sams and Margie
Hoffman.
2:30: Opioid Settlement.
Tuesday, August 26: Simnasho
District Pre-Budget meeting at the
Simnasho Longhouse, dinner at 6
and meeting at 7.
Wednesday, August 27:
Seekseequa District Pre-Budget
meeting at the Seekseequa Fire Hall,
dinner at 6 and meeting at 7.
The Deschutes River and its
tributaries are in the traditional
homelands of the Confederated
Tribes.
“The County simply cannot
understand the full picture of
this project’s impact without our
perspective,” Chairman White
said.
The tribes are exploring addi-
tional actions, possibly including an
appeal to the Oregon Land Use
Board of Appeals.
Huckleberry trip
The Warm Springs Huck-
leberry Trip to Mount Hood
Meadows is this Thursday,
August 7. Families and indi-
viduals can ride the bus pro-
vided, or drive up and meet
the group. Everyone must be
signed up and complete a li-
ability release form. There
will be shuttles to huckleberry
picking areas, stadium
chairlift rides, and lunch
provided. Contact KWSO at
541-553-1968; or email:
sue.matters@wstribes.org