Note9 from the Chairman (continued)
Work with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has nearly been
completed. We have finished negotiations on this key Issue. OOFW held a
hearing on the results at the Safari Restaurant located In McMlnnville,
Oregon at 7:00 p.m. May 22. 1986. This was to give a review and comment
time for the public. Essentially the agreement will allow the Tribe to
issue elk, deer, and bear tags to tribal members who wish to hunt or fish
in designated areas during the state declared seasons.
The agreement will set aside future litigation and claims by the Grand
Ronde Tribe for hunting 4 fishing rights. The council sought to leave
this issue out of the Reservation Plan until a bill was passed. The
council felt that a land resource base was the key. Hunting and fishing
was an issue that could have been taken up at a later date.
In order to establish a strong legal case for hunting and fishing a great
deal of legal research must be done. There was too little time and money
to carry out this research before the Plan was to be submitted.
The state wanted the issue to be put to rest and pressed for this
agreement which will ultimately be called a Consent Decree. This Consent
Decree will be binding both on the state and the tribe.
The Council is directing its energies to what could be final meetings with
representatives of the Forest Products Industry. There are some major
points the council will address with them. Among the key issues are the
council's stance on export of timber and timber supply for annual sale.
The council has met numerous times with Cooper Consultants, BIA Forestry
and our legal advisors to understand and formulate a position on the above
concerns and other points identified by the timber Industry.
We expect to hold one or two more meetings with the timber industry
representatives. We are hopeful of reaching an accord with these people.
Our previous meetings were designed to establish a wish list of concerns.
In April we had two meetings where I believe the concerns were now
defined. We now have prepared responses to the industries concerns.
I ALSO WISH TO INFORM YOU, THAT ON THE 29TH OF MAY, THE OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING AT THE ODFW BUILDING
IN PORTLAND, OREGON. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING WAS FOR THE ODFW TO
LISTEN TO TESTIMONY FROM THE PUBLIC CITIZENRY REGARDING OUR PROPOSED
HUNTING AND FISHING BETWEEN THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF GRAND RONDE AND THE
STATE OF OREGON AFTER LISTENING TO SOME POSITIVE AND VERY NEGATIVE
TESTIMONY, THE ODFW COMMISSION ELECTED NOT TO RENDER A DECISION WHETHER OR
NOT TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT. I AM APPEALING TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU
TO WRITE LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO THE ODFW COMMISSION THE DEADLINE FOR
SUPPORT LETTERS IS JUNE 20. 1986. MAIL YOUR LETTERS TO; CHAIRMAN, GENE
MORRIS. OREGON FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION, P.O. BOX 54, PORTLAND, OR
97207.
ALSO, I WISH TO STRESS TO YOU, THAT DUE TO MIS-INFORMATION WHICH IS
CIRCULATING THROUGHOUT THE LOCAL AREA, OPPOSITION TO THE CONFEDERATED
TRIBES OF GRAND RONDE RESERVATION PLAN IS REACHING HYSTERICAL
PROPORTIONS! AS A RESULT, THE YAMHILL COUNTY COMMISSION HAS REQUESTED "TO