SMOKE SIGNALS - April 7, 1996 Page 3
Chairman's Report: Tribe will negotiate for timberland
By Mark Mercier
On the week of March 18 through the 21st, Tribal
Council member Leon Tom, Tribal Attorney
Mike Mason, Executive Officer Francis Somday
and I travelled to Washington D.C.
The purpose of the trip was to meet with Oregon's
Congressional Delegation and Officials from the Depart
ment of the Interior to discuss the Tribe's efforts to obtain
7,600 acres of timberland, close to the Tribe's existing
reservation. These lands are scattered parcels, ranging
from 700 acres to 20 acre plots, owned and managed by the
Bureau of Land Management. Our tribal delegation met
personally with Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives
Elizabeth Furse, Jim Bunn, Peter DeFazio, and Wes
Cooley.
To obtain these lands will require an act of Congress, just
as was required when the Tribe received its current
reservation. It is difficult to know what the outcome of this
effort will be, or when this effort will become final. The
Tribe will need support from the local area. Also, these
lands are managed under the Oregon & California (O&C)
Railroad Land Grants status. The Tribe will need to
mitigate any financial impacts, since all counties in
Western Oregon depend on these O&C lands for funding.
Fifty percent of all revenues generated from timber sales go
to these western counties. The Tribe is also working with
the Governor to address any concerns which his office may
have regarding our efforts to secure these lands.
Since 1996 is a re-election year, it's possible that little
progress maybe made, since Congressional candidates will
be campaigning for the November 5th election. Either way,
the Tribe will continue to pursue these lands, and may wait
until 1997 to finalize this effort if necessary.
The Tribe also met with Officials of the Departments of
Justice and the Interior to discuss a pending United States
8th Circuit Court Decision, which stems from the Bureau of
7
Indian Affairs taking a parcel of land into trust for a Tribe in
South Dakota, who wish to do gaming there. In short, the
8th Circuit Court ruled that the Secretary of the Interior who
has jurisdiction over the Bureau of Indian Affairs, docs not
have the authority to do fee to trust transfers under the
Indian Reorganization Act. Already, there arc other states
who are petitioning their respective U.S. Courts to rule the
same way.
If other U.S. Circuit Courts throughout the nation follow
suit, it is very possible that the Bureau of Indian Affairs will
impose a moratorium on fee to trust transfers for Tribes.
How could this affect us? Currently, the Grand Rondc
Tribe has fee to trust transfers pending, and it is the hopes of
the Tribal Council to do more. If the BIA docs stop taking
land in trust for Tribes, it will diminish the possibility of the
Housing and Urban Development providing funding for
housing, since HUD requires that Tribal owned lands need
to be held in trust for funding eligibility. Also, it will be
difficult to provide tax incentives to businesses which the
Tribe hopes to attract to Grand Rondc. If the BIA docs stop
taking lands into trust for ourTribe, it will have devastating
effects.
Serbian journalist visits Tribe
A journalist from Serbia was a special visitor at the Tribe on
March 19.
Ismail Dupljak is a participant in the International Visitor Pro
gram sponsored by the United States Information Agency (USIA).
His visit to America lasted a month, and he requested to visit the
Tribe as part of his interest in Native American history and culture.
Every year, American embassies all over the world are asked to
identify potential leaders in their respective countries in govern
ment, education, science, business, and the arts to spend a month in
the United States with the aim of getting a realistic picture of the
country and meeting Americans who share common interests and
professions.
Mr. Dupljak shared many of his experiences as a Serbian with
Tribal Council. Kathryn Harrison gave a brief history of the Tribe,
restoration and termination, and an overview of the tribal programs.
They also had lunch at the Casino. Ms. Dubravks Trklja also vis
ited as Mr. Dupljak's interpreter.
AT RIGHT: Standing, Gene LaBonte and Bob Haller.
Sitting from left, Ms. Dubravks Trklja, Ismail Dupljak, and
Kathryn Harrison.
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