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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2008)
Smoke Signals 3 JANUARY 15, 2008 Cedledl Dairodls ipireseiraftsiftiiomi dlomoDDaes Jam). 6 Gemieiran Coaninidiu mraeettoinigj Karnosh briefs Tribe on efforts to protect lands of interest By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Mike Karnosh, the Tribe's Ceded Lands coordinator, briefed about 100 Tribal members on efforts to protect Tribal ceded lands during the Jan. 6 General Council meeting held in the Community Center in Grand Ronde. Karnosh, who received a law de gree in 2005 from Lewis & Clark University in environmental and natural resources law, said his two-person department's directions derive from Tribal Council Resolu tion 34-03. He strives to protect Tribal cul tural resources for future gen erations, identify at-risk Tribal cultural resources on Cultural In terest Lands from being damaged, destroyed, looted or desecrated, protect Tribal natural resources from outside activities and moni tor development and planning activities of other governments and private parties that might affect Tribal resources. Karnosh said he concentrates on two types of lands: Ceded Home lands are those specifically de scribed in treaties signed by the Tribe that were given to the U.S. government in exchange for pay ments and rights, and Non-Treaty Homelands, which are areas his torically inhabited by the Tribe's numerous bands that include ter ritory in Tillamook, Clatsop and Lincoln counties in Oregon and portions of Clark, Lewis, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum and Pacific counties in Washington. Karnosh said he must track is sues on millions of acres, some of which are the most productive and most developed or developing land in Oregon and Washington. In ad dition, he must track thousands of miles of aquatic systems, including parts of the Columbia, Willamette, Umpqua and Rogue rivers, as well as the Pacific Ocean. "Some are among the most polluted waters in the country," he said. 57 VIP'! r " v n v - ivr, 4) Wl''l,'',ll'W Photo by Dean Rhodes Tribal Elder Louise Coulson, right, receives a hug from Tribal Elder Val Grout during the Jan. 6 General Council meeting in the Tribal Community Center. Grout and Pearl Mekemson gave the blanket to Coulson in appreciation for her years of chairing the Elders' Committee. Karnosh said the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde work to protect Tribal resources and inter ests by involvement in enforcement actions and litigation against pol luters, participation as intervenors in settlement negotiations, mem berships in resource protection organizations and partnering with federal and state agencies. Karnosh said the Ceded Lands staff maintains a database of more than 180 activities, about half of which are currently active, that might affect Tribal natural re sources. Karnosh said he and Environ mental Resource specialist Brandy Humpherys work in conjunction with the Tribe's Cultural Resources Department, Legal Department, Natural Resources staff, Public Information Department, Global Information Systems coordinator, external consultants and Tribal Council members to meet its goal. In other action during the Jan. 6 General Council meeting: Tribal Elder Louise Coulson re ceived a Pendleton blanket in ap preciation for her years of service to the Elders' Committee. Tribal Council member Reyn Leno said that Tribal members met with representatives of the Multhomah Anglers and Hunt ers Club on Jan. 2 and have been notified the club will send a letter in support of the Tribe's attempt to obtain hunting tags for cultural and ceremonial meat. Leno said the proposal will go to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission in April and the Tribe needs to compile a list of hunters who would be awarded the tags to hunt 15 deer, nine elk and three bear. A meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 30 in the Grand Ronde Community Center for Tribal members in terested in participating in the ceremonial hunts. Hunters must be 18 or older. A light meal will be served. Tribal Council member Val Shek er said the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and Siletz are looking for professional, licensed landscaping businesses that are either Tribally owned or employ Tribal members to apply to main tain the Chemawa Station project in Keizer. Chemawa Station is a joint venture of both Tribes. For more information, contact Eric Scott at 503-879-2404 or eric. scottgrandronde.org. Cheri Butler, Margaret Provost, Linda Branson and Louise Me deiros were elected to four open seats on the Elders' Committee. Tribal member Brent Merrill proposed creating a Thomas Bean Community Spirit Award in hon or of his recently deceased uncle, who was well-known for helping Grand Ronde Tribal members by fixing appliances and cars and providing transportation. Merrill said he would donate $500 to ward the effort and sought Tribal Council support in creating an award that would be given every December to those who work to selflessly help family, friends and community members. Kevin Campbell won the $100 door prize and John Lillard, LeVeta Sell and Bernadine Shriver won the three $50 door prizes. 0 E3dD0M))GH 5j.SuUQS QJSltt Spirit Mountain Gaming Commission Executive Director Lynn Hillman retired Jan. 4 after 1 3 years of service to the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde. Left Hillman received a Pendleton blanket from Tribal Council members Chris Merder, left and Jack Giffen Jr. Right Gaming Commissioner and Tribal member Andy Jenness spoke during Hillman's retirement open house. Gaming Commissioner Joe Vricella has been named acting Interim executive director until a permanent replacement Is hired. ( Photos by Dean Rhodes
