Tribal Hunting Rights Upheld in Port Townsend Court" "

Smoke Signals February 1990 Page 10 "TIMBER GROUP EXPECTS TRIBES AND STATE SIGN ANXIETY, LAYOFFS' CENTENNIAL ACCORD Washington Governor Booth Gardner and leaders of EUGENE - The Northwest timber compromise hasn't the state's federally recognized Indian tribes made eased Oregon loggers' uncertainty about their future, history Friday, August 4, 1989, with the signing of the and industry group official said Friday. Centennial Accord, which formalizes a more coopera- The official, Mike Miller, executive director of Associ- tive relationship between state government and the ated Oregon Loggers, also said widespread layoffs could tribes. be expected in coming months. The accord recognizes and respects the sovereignty of "I think uncertainty is still the word of the day," Miller the tribes and has become a national model for relations said. between sate governments and Indian tribes. The Miller said the uncertainty included environmentalists' "OREGON BIRD HUNTERS accord calls for a government-to-government approach ' appeals of U.S. Forest Service timber sales and pending between the tribes and the state to work jointly on court challenges of the compromise legislation. NEED STAMP problems of mutual concern. The compromise restarted federal timber sales that Oregon hunters will have to buy a $5 state stamp if Gardner and tribal leaders said the agreement is the had been halted during much of 1989 by they want to bag a bird in 1990. most significant, positive step taken since statehood environmentalist's lawsuits involving the northern The stamp is required in addition to an Oregon toward building a proper and positive relationship spotted owl. hunting license for al upland game birds. between state government and Indian tribes. Tom Hirons of Lyons, owner of Mad Creek Logging The Fish and Wildlife Commission has approved the "The tribes are sovereign governments and should be Co., agreed with Miller's assessment that logging layoffs stamp, and a contest will be held to select the artwork. treated as such," Gardner said. "It is in our interest to were likely. Money raised from the stamp sales will be used for improve the ability of both tribal and state governments He said he currently employs nine people, down from a increased public assesses, youth hunting programs, to perform as governments. State governments will no usual summer level of 23. raising game birds and habitat improvement for birds longer be an obstacle to tribal sovereignty." Logging employment normally drops in the winter. such as quail and grouse. The accord is designed to address issues through But Hirons said other factors - presumably tight logging Stamp sales are estimated to raise about $442,500, cooperation and negotiation rather than confrontation supplies and soft markets for finished wood products -- according to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and litigation," said Joe DeLaCruz, president of the also are at work now. biologists. Quinault Indian Nation. Hirons heads a Mill City-base- d chapter of Communi- Commissioners also heard department proposals for "We have come a very long way from a history of ties for a Great Oregon, a pro-loggi- group. 1990 controlled hunts for big game. conflict and controversy to becoming a national model Brian Greber, an assistant forest economics professor There will be public meetings at 7 p.m. today at for solving complex problems," Gardner added. Ex- at Oregon State University, said he put a little faith in Chemeketa Community College, Building 3, Room 116 amples of the kind of cooperative relationship sought the loggers' association's predictions of job losses. and Friday at the Tillamook Public Utility District office through the accord include the Puyallup Land Claims Prior to the start of their annual convention here, the . on Pacific Avenue to discuss the proposals and take Settlement and the TimberFishWildlife Agreement. loggers released a survey indicating that many firms public comments. Gardner said the more positive relationship has been expect to lay off logging and roadbuilding crews in the Rules for controlled hunts will be decided at the Feb. so successful and noteworthy that states from through- next five months because of timber supply problems. 10 commission in meeting Portland. , - ? v out the west as well as the federal and Canadian govern- Seventy-si- x of the group's 453 member companies Because of loss of range and road construction, the ments have contacted the state of Washington to learn responded to the survey. Of those, 71 percent said they number of controlled and limited-entr- y hunts would be more. "The benefits and the obligations of this accord expected to shut increased down temporarily or lay off some under the department's proposals. form a two-wa- y road. It won't always be an easy road, workers in the next five months because of timber but in the end we believe it will be far more productive supply problems. Those are: for all parties than paying lawyers to fight these issues in Those cutbacks would put 756 people out of work, court. Too often court decisions cause more problems mainly in southern and southwestern Oregon, according - Mule Deer: An increase in the number of controlled than they solve," said Melvin Sampson, chairman of the to the survey. hunts from 14 in 1989 to 22 this would year. There be a Yakima Indian Nation. According to state Employment Division statistics, total of 25,825 tags for those hunts. The tribes and the Governor have identified three Oregon has about 1,300 logging companies. Loggin - Elk: An increase in tags for limited-entr- y hunts from areas in which they hope to make initial progress: employment in 1989 ranged from 10,800 in April to 10,900 in 1989 to 34,790 in 1990. economic development, social services and natural 12,700 in July and - Antelope: An increase in the August. number of rifle tags to' resources. 2,290, 115 more than 1989. Working together on economic development strategies Courtesy of the Statesman Journal - Bighorn sheep: 54 tags, three more than were issued will help reduce unemployment on tribal lands, which by drawing in 1989. "TRIBAL HUNTING currently runs as high as 50 percent, and will also provide and economic stimulus to neighboring commu- The commission approved regulations for the con- RIGHTS UPHELD IN PORT nities, many of which are economically distressed, said trolled spring black bear hunts, authorizing 1,990 tags Larry Kinley, chairman of the Lummi Indian Nation. (415 more than 1989). TOWNSEND COURT" "Getting at the unemployment problem, through The western Oregon season will run May 12 to June A jury found two Native Americans "not guilty" carefully thought-ou- t economic development on tribal of 30. The eastern Oregon season will be April 7 to May lands, will be a first step toward solving a myriad of charges issued by a state of Washington game warden 20. social for hunting elk problems," Gardner said. outside of the state's regulated game and Landowners in controlled-hun- deer and elk t areas also Natural hunting season and for hunting on private land. Tribal resource management remains the area with got a break from commissioners. The seven-member the most significant hunting regulatory authority disregarded by issues to be resolved between the was the board approved increasing the number of tags landown- warden tribes and the state. In the past, these issues have been game issuing the citation. ers can get to hunt on their land. aired and decided in federal court. With the accord, the The small Port Townsend court room was filled to Families owning 40 to 5,000 acres will be allowed two first effort will capacity. Many tribal officials, family, friends and two be to negotiate to resolve differences tags, and people owning more than 5,000 acres will be rather observing organizations sat it hearings than letting the courts determine the outcome. on the held for allowed four tags for use by members of the immediate "We have no illusions that the state and the tribes will Klallam members Ted George and his son, Kevin family. never face George. Ron Adams and Jon Magnuson of the Church off in court again, but this accord serves as a Previously, landowners were allowed two tags for Council of Greater Seattle and Marilyn Wandrey of the commitment and a recognition that ours is a shared limited-entr- y buck and bull hunts. Under the new rules, future and American Friends Service Committee observed the that the courts should be a last resort," landowners are eligible for doe and cow as well as either proceedings. Gardner said. sex tags. State Much to one jury member's dismay, the court's order executive agencies are directed by the Governor There is a $3.50 application fee owner-preferen- tags. to establish formal to the jury included defense exhibits on interpretation of procedures to carry out the principles of the accord. Each tribal treaty law and the tribal right to hunt on lands tribe will also be expected to - Courtesy of the Statesman Journal (Continued on page 11.) (Continued on page 11.).

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