S moke S ignals
APRIL 15, 2018
7
General Council briefed on Natural Resources efforts
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
EUGENE — Tribal Natural Re-
sources crews have planted more
than 100,000 seedlings on the Res-
ervation so far in 2018, outpacing
the department’s average seedling
planting of 64,000 annually, Silvi-
culture and Fire Protection Manag-
er Colby Drake said at the Sunday,
April 8, General Council meeting
held in the Many Nations Long-
house at the University of Oregon.
“We’re getting a lot of good stuff
put into the ground,” Drake said
about the Tribe’s reforestation
efforts.
Drake joined Natural Resources
Department Manager Michael
Wilson in giving a 34-minute pre-
sentation to Tribal members who
packed the longhouse.
Wilson started the presentation
with an overview of Willamette
Falls and Tribal collection of Pacific
lamprey and dip-netting for salmon
at the site in Oregon City.
“A very important place,” Wilson
said. “Very important in our past,
in our culture. It’s important to us
today and it will be important in
the future. … It’s a beautiful place.”
Wilson said water quality in the
Willamette River is important as
well because whatever pollutants
are placed in the river in the Eu-
gene area will eventually make
their way downstream to the falls.
“Natural Resources is taking the
lead in promoting water quality
and working with a lot of different
agencies, making sure that water
stays healthy and continues to get
better,” Wilson said.
Wilson also discussed Tribal
efforts to understand the life cycle
fire to clear the
land. All Tribal
burn plans on the
Reservation must
be pre-approved
by the Bureau
of Indian Affairs
and on fee lands
arranged in con-
sultation with the
Oregon Depart-
ment of Forestry
to control smoke
pollution.
Drake said the
Tribe
primarily
Photo by Dean Rhodes
–
94
percent
–
Natural Resources Department Manager Michael
plants Douglas
Wilson discusses his department’s efforts on the
fir on the Reser-
Reservation and in the ceded lands during the Sunday,
vation because it
April 8, General Council meeting held in the Many
is merchantable
Nations Longhouse on the University of Oregon
timber, as well as
campus in Eugene.
western red cedar
in the lowland ar-
eas
and
hemlock
in
the shade areas
of the Pacific lamprey, work on
to maintain diversity.
keeping Reservation lands healthy
Drake also briefed the member-
and how that benefits a variety of
ship on the Wildland Fire program
wildlife, and the Tribe’s efforts to
that is self-sufficient and earns
grow Native plants, such as camas.
the Tribe approximately $200,000
Drake, who said that he is learn-
annually.
ing that forestry “is a very slow
Wilson and Drake fielded seven
process,” discussed Tribal efforts
questions and comments from the
to re-plant its Reservation lands.
audience after their presentation.
“These 70-year rotations make
Tribal Council Chairwoman
it difficult to make a quick change
Cheryle A. Kennedy complimented
on something,” he said. “Our mis-
the Natural Resources Department
sion statement is to promote the
for using traditional Tribal prac-
tradition of being good stewards
tices to care for the ceded lands in
to all natural resources, not just
western Oregon.
the forest or the Reservation, by
Tribal Council Secretary Jon A.
accomplishing this by protecting
George and Eric Bernando per-
and maintaining our forest health
formed the cultural drumming and
and maintaining the productivity
singing to open the meeting and
for future uses.”
Kennedy asked everyone in atten-
Drake discussed the cycle of grow-
ing trees, which starts with using
Ad created by George Valdez
dance to introduce themselves so
that Tribal members could connect
with family.
In addition, Natural Resources
staff members Torey Wakeland
and Michele Volz supervised a fish
distribution.
Jessica Volpe, Matthew Wilkin-
son and Levina Mankajon won
the $100 door prizes and Mya
George, Elder Barbara Feehan,
Kiera Ching, Les Houck and Tribal
spouse Bob Chapman won the $50
door prizes. Two necklaces made
by Tribal Council Secretary Jon A.
George also were raffled off.
The next General Council meet-
ing will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday,
May 6, in the Tribal Community
Center in Grand Ronde.
Following a lunch provided by
Baja Fresh and a brief Other Busi-
ness session, which included for-
mer Tribal Council member Andy
Jenness and Tribal Elder Monty
Parazoo thanking Tribal Council
for visiting the Eugene area, the
meeting was adjourned and about
30 Tribal members participated in
a Community Input meeting that
solicited ideas for possible advisory
vote issues to be placed on the Sep-
tember Tribal Council ballot.
Tribal General Manager David
Fullerton and Tribal Council Chief
of Staff Stacia Hernandez facilitat-
ed the meeting. There also will be
another Community Input meeting
regarding possible advisory vote
topics after the May 6 General
Council meeting.
The entire meeting can be viewed
on the Tribal website at www.gran-
dronde.org by clicking on the News
tab and then Video.