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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 2026)
The year to come for the river tribes Photo by Matheny/courtesy CRITFC A look back Chief Tommy Thompson, Henry Thompson, Flora Thompson, Jimmy George, John Whiz, Tom Frank Yallup, 1952. “ The Salmon fish was not created by Indians or by Whites or any human race. But it was created by the Creator of this world and it was created as food for the Indians... ” - Chief Tommy Th- ompson, addressing members of Congress Community notes... The Warm Springs Hous- ing Authority reminds those on the Housing waiting list that updates have been sent in the mail. The ‘State- ment of continued interest’ must be filled out and re- turned to Housing no later than Friday, January 30. This is important: If you do not return that form, you will be dropped from the Housing list. If you do not in 1938 as they were considering the effects of the Bonneville Dam and other dams pro- posed for the Columbia River. Chief Thompson was the leader of the Wy-am Indi- ans. He was reminding them of their commitment to honor the fishing rights of get the ‘Statement of con- tinued interest’ letter by this Friday, January 9, please con- tact contact Housing, 541- 553-3250; or stop by the Housing office. The Warm Springs Or- egon State University Ex- tension Service is having a ‘Food Preservation’ class, teaching how to make and preserve homemade barbe- cue and marinara sauces. This will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 22 at the Campus Cafeteria. Space is the Columbia River’s Na- tive people. According to Sapsikaan, Jerry Meninick (Yakama), Chief Thompson was not enrolled with any tribe. He also never accepted money from the dam settlement. Sapsikaan spoke of him as being a great man who only wanted to take care of his family and protect what sustained his people. limited, and you need to re- serve a spot by calling 541- 553-3238. Or send an email: sara.olson@oregonstate.edu The 21st Century After School program at the Warm Springs Academy is looking for a SMART Read- ing volunteer who will spend one hour a week reading with children in the community. You will read with kinder and first grade students. Training and support provided. Apply online at SMARTreading.org/ volunteer As we begin 2026, the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission celebrates a new year of shared com- mitment with the Confeder- ated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Na- tion, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and the Nez Perce Tribe. Since our founding in 1977, our four tribes have united to protect the salmon that sustain our people cul- turally, spiritually, and eco- nomically. Operating on a consensus model, where each tribe has an equal voice, we continue to speak with one unified voice in the management of Columbia River Basin fish- ery resources. This year, we renew our mission to ensure that our treaty rights are honored and protected, our salmon runs are restored, and our fishing families can maintain the tra- ditions and way of life passed down through gen- erations. To our tribal fishers and their families: Your dedica- tion to preserving our sa- cred First Foods and the health of our rivers strengthens us all. Together, we move for- ward in 2026, committed to the restoration work that honors both our treaties and the salmon that have always been central to who we are as peoples of the Columbia River Plateau. CRITFC. Pacific salmon returns projected as moderate Juvenile salmon expe- rienced a mix of favor- able and challenging ocean conditions off the West Coast in 2025, according to an annual analysis by National Oceanic Atmo- spheric Administration Fisheries, and Oregon State University research- ers. Warmer ocean condi- tions leading into last win- ter suggested that juvenile salmon entering the ocean in spring 2025 would encoun- ter less abundant prey domi- nated by species historically associated with lower sur- vival. Seasonal upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water be- gan strongly in the spring, typically a positive signal for salmon, and sampling in June showed the highest abun- dance of juvenile coho salmon observed across all survey years. The upwelling weak- ened in July, however, re- sulting in overall ocean conditions that ranged from good to moderate for physical and biologi- cal indicators. These factors and oth- ers, taken together, point to a moderate outlook for salmon survival. Around Indian Country Indigenous Land Trust buys 10,000 acres, as salmon return The Klamath Land Trust purchase is one of the largest private land purchases by an Indigenous-led land trust in U.S. history As salmon return to the headwaters of the Klamath River for the first time in more than a century, the newly formed Klamath In- digenous Land Trust and PacifiCorp announced the purchase of 10,000 acres in and around the river’s former reservoir reach. “Dam removal allowed the salmon to return home. Returning these lands to In- digenous care ensures that home will be a place where they can flourish and re- cover,” said Molli Myers (Karuk), president of the Klamath Indigenous Land Trust board of directors. “Our communities spent generations fighting for this moment and we honor our ancestors who carried this vision forward. The healing that’s underway is real, and this acquisition reflects the future we’re building together as People of the Klamath Basin.” PacifiCorp, the former landowner, partnered with the land trust to complete the sale following a decadeslong, Indigenous- led effort to remove four dams on the Klamath River, a project completed last year. The purchase includes lands upstream of and adjacent to the former hy- dropower project that are considered critical to the river’s long-term health and its f isheries. T he transfer places steward- Summaries of Tribal Council (from page 2) Motion by Alvis approv- ing the Chairman to sign the letter. Second by Jonathan. Question: Rosie/yes, Cap- tain/yes, Jay/yes, Alvis/yes, Jefferson/yes, Jonathan/ yes, 6/0/0, Chairman not voting. Motion carried. · Special Per Capita pay- ment to tribal members: Motion by Alvis adopt- ing Resolution No. 13,280, that a special per capita dis- tribution is hereby autho- rized for each eligible mem- ber who appears on the roll as of December 5, 2025, and that such special per capita be made from avail- able funds in Revenue Re- serve, and that the current budget is hereby amended in the amount of $33,224,400.00; That this special per capita be distrib- uted on December 12, 2025 and be paid directly to all members, with the following conditions: As listed on A and B; That any future spe- cial dividend payments are expected to be reduced in or- der to protect financial sta- tus of the Tribe and relieve unreasonable expectations and dependencies created by special dividend payments. Second by Jonathan; Ques- tion: Rosie/yes, Captain/yes, Jay/yes, Alvis/yes, Jefferson/no, Jonathan/yes, 5/0/1, Chairman not voting; Motion carried. (Dennis Klamath Indigenous Land Trust Jenny Creek of the Klamath basin. ship of the land under In- digenous values and eco- logical restoration goals for the first time in more than a century. “PacifiCorp is gratified to see these lands transition to a stewardship model that honors their cultural and ecological significance,” said Ryan Flynn, president of Pa- cific Power, the PacifiCorp division serving customers in California, Oregon and Wash- ington. “We recognize the leadership of the Klamath Basin Tribes and the Klamath Indigenous Land Trust in shaping a restoration vision that will benefit the entire re- supports the approval of this resolution). · Early Childhood Edu- cation compliance update with Reona Trimble and Cheryl Tom. Motion by Jay to adjourn at 2:05 p.m., Second by Rosie. · December agenda and travel delegations: Motion by Jonathan ap- proving the December agenda and travel delega- tions. Second by Alvis. Ques- tion: Rosie/yes, Captain/ yes, Jay/yes, Alvis/yes, Jefferson/yes, Jonathan/ yes, 6/0/0, Chairman not voting. Motion carried. November 18 The meeting was called to order by Vice Chairman Carlos Calica. Roll call: Lin- coln Jay Suppah, Chief Jefferson Greene, Raymond Captain Moody, Vice Chair- man Carlos Calica, Lonnie Rosie Tom, Alvis Smith III. Minnie Yahtin, Recorder. Invocation given by Chief Greene. · Secretary-Treasurer up- date with Pamela Douglas, acting. · Draft resolutions: Forest Management de- duction discussion with Aus- tin Smith Jr.: Motion by Captain adopting Resolution No. 13,281, that 2026 FMD Budget is approved, includ- ing, without limitation, the imposition of a seven per- cent FMD for the 2026 cal- endar year; That such funds shall be reimbursed from gion.” The land trust was formed by leaders from four Kla- math Basin Tribes who began working together after the 2002 fish kill. They spent the next two decades advancing a grassroots movement to re- move the dams and restore salmon runs. “We are from different tribes and we each have our own cultural tradi- tions, but it was through working together and by bringing tribal People from all over the Basin to- gether that created this m o m e n t ,” s a i d We n d y Fe r r i s - G e o r g e ( H u p a / Karuk), vice president of the trust board. With the acquisition com- plete, the land trust plans to develop comprehensive land management plans with input from area tribes. The plans will focus on habitat recov- ery, protection of cultural resources, fire management and public access. “This is the next chapter in the Klamath River’s re- newal,” said board member Jeff Mitchell (Klamath/ Modoc). “It’s proof that Indig- enous leadership and com- munity partnerships can achieve transformational change at a landscape scale.” Funding for the pur- chase was provided by the Catena Foundation, the Community Foundation of New Jersey and an anony- mous donor. Editor’s note: These lands are distinct from the ones held by the Klamath River Renewal Corporation for the purpose of dam re- moval and restoration, of- ten referred to as the ‘Par- cel B’ lands. timber sales no later than quarterly to the Confeder- ated Tribes from Forest Man- agement Deduction account; That 2026 FMD Budget shall: 1.) Be consistent with the Tribes Intensive Forest Management Fund Policy; 2.) Be in compliance with the National Indian Forest Re- sources Management Act, 25 U.S.C. § 3101 et seq.. Second by Alviss Question: Rosie/ yes, Captain/yes, Jay/yes, Alvis/yes, Jefferson/yes, 5/ 0/0, Chairman not voting. Motion carried. · Prepaid Technologies Company, Inc. dba Dash So- lutions discussion with Sarah Monkton: Motion by Alvis adopting Resolution No. 13,282, that it hereby: 1.) Confirms that each statement above is true in all material respects; 2.) Authorizes the Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary-Trea- surer/CEO to work with le- gal counsel to finalize and ex- ecute an agreement with Dash for Dash Services; 3.) Authorizes the Authorized Representatives to take such further and additional action as they reasonably deter- mine to be necessary or ap- propriate to carry out the foregoing resolution in a manner that is consistent with WSTC Chapter 3. Sec- ond by Rosie. Question: Rosie/yes, Captain/yes, Jay/ yes, Alvis/yes, Jefferson/ yes, 5/0/0, Chairman not voting. Motion carried. · 2026 Juror list with Chief Judge Gayleen Adams: Summaries continue in the next Spilyay
