Tribal Relations News

Spring 2012 USDA FOREST SERVICE OFFICE OF TRIBAL RE LATIONS Inside this issue: Getting to know Leslie 2 Tribal Relations News Weldon Director’s Welcome Partnering with Tribes 3 on Landscape Restora- The Forest Service (FS) Tribal “Forest Service Partnership in employee may nominate an indi- tion Relations Strategic Plan hinges on Tribal Relations” award to the vidual or group for single or mul- The Network 4 the goal of “leveraging partner- leaders of five Tribal Nations for tiple award categories: ship to maximize mutual suc- their exceptional work in hosting cess”—this allows us to meet the the 2010 “To Bridge a Gap Con- Leadership in Tribal Rela- FS mission overall while better ference.” Appropriately, the tions Award Ceremonial Stone 4 serving Tribes. This edition of the award was presented at the 2012 Lifetime Achievement in Structures and Land- Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) To Bridge a Gap Conference in Tribal Relations Award scapes Newsletter illustrates the value of Durant, Oklahoma, on April 5, Partnership in Tribal Rela- partnerships and the great work 2012. The recipients were: 5 tions Award Klamath Tribal Forest we can all accomplish by working Crew Tribal Relations Professional together. Great partnerships exist Choctaw Nation of Oklaho- Excellence Award among Forest Service personnel ma: Assistant Chief Gary 6 in all areas of the Agency, be- Forest Service & BIA Batton If you have questions about the Forest Health Projects tween Agency staffs and individu- Chickasaw Nation: Gover- awards, please contact me or Pam al Tribes and intertribal organiza- nor Bill Anoatubby Williams, OTR Administrative tions, and between Federal Agen- Muscogee (Creek) Nation: Assistant at [email protected]. Historic Impacts, His- 7 cies to achieve a common goal. Second Chief Roger Barnett toric Solutions on There are few things I enjoy more Meacham Creek Caddo Nation: Chairman There is so much to share about than recognizing our partners, so Brenda Shemayme Edwards the Forest Service’s ongoing and I’m happy to report that we have Tribal Lands Day 8 upcoming work with Tribes been presenting a lot of awards as Absentee Shawnee Tribe of throughout the Forest Service - of late. In this Newsletter, you Oklahoma: Tribal Historic too much for one Newsletter. So can read about the award present- Preservation Officer Hen- please keep track of the latest Consultation Corner 9 ed in Washington, DC to the ryetta Ellis accomplishments with this and Confederated Tribes of the future editions, and put our Web Umatilla Indian Reservation for This is my opportunity to remind site (www.fs.fed.us/spf/ “Collaborative Aquatic Steward- you that it is time to send in nom- 10 tribalrelations) in your browser’s Editor’s Note ship.” I was similarly delighted inations for the next round of favorites list. to present along with Janie Hipp, National Tribal Relations the Senior Advisor to Secretary Awards, covering the calendar Vilsack for Tribal Affairs, a year of 2011. Any Forest Service Tribal Research Update Page 11 Leslie Weldon, Mary Wagner, Fred Clark, and Anne Zimmer- mann presenting the Collaborative Aquatic Stewardship Award to Mike Lambert at the Rise to the Future Awards Reception. Tribal Relations News Page 2 Getting to Know Leslie Weldon Leslie Weldon began her Forest ideas to the discussions happening management. She saw how the Service career as a summer hire on around her. She appreciates the tribal culture, history, and value the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie value and importance of under- system were the foundation for National Forest at the age of 19. standing one’s self and others, their management practices. This She arrived on a Sunday evening, and what that means for working teaching from that workshop is unprepared for the weather and with different kinds of people and something that helped her contin- terrain of the Pacific Northwest. cultures including American Indi- ue to build her understanding of She was directed to her quarters, a ans and Alaska Natives with their Tribal relations with the FS. Gloria Owen being honored trailer behind the ranger station unique culture that ties them to by Regional Forester Leslie Leslie has held biologist positions Weldon at the Lolo National where she bunked for the next natural resources. Early on on the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie, Forest’s new pollinator three months. She would spend through her appointment as a garden at Fort Missoula. at the National Headquarters, and (Photo Credit: Joni Packard, that summer surveying spotted fisheries biologist, Leslie would in the Northern Regional Office. US Forest Service) owls, monitoring regeneration begin to develop the socio-cultural efforts, and fighting wildfires. foundations needed to work with She also served as Stevensville District Ranger on the Bitterroot This initial experience did not in Tribes near the Snoqualmie For- National Forest, as Liaison to the any way discourage her from work- est. During her tenure as the ing for the Forest Service, but set fisheries biologist she interacted U.S. Army and as Executive Policy Assistant to former Forest Service “Well, I guess in motion her rise to a leadership with Tribes on this very conten- role as the Deputy Chief of the tious, sensitive issue of salmon Chief Michael Dombeck. Weldon was Forest Supervisor on the you could National Forest System. rights in the Pacific Northwest. She understood the need to coop- Deschutes National Forest from describe me as Growing up in the greater Wash- 2000 - 2007. Prior to her selec- eratively manage natural resources adventurous.” ington, DC area, Leslie was ex- while recognizing the treaty rights tion as Deputy Chief, Leslie was posed to area parks and forests in the Regional Forester in Montana. of Tribes. She worked with the and around the Chesapeake Bay. Mjakateiya and Tulalip Tribes, However, her first Girl Scout Leslie and her husband, who hap- tribal salmon restoration crews, pens to be a fisheries biologist, are camping trip would find her on and Columbia River Inter-Tribal the other side of the world, near very excited to be back in Wash- Fisheries Commission to ensure a ington after both have gained Tokyo, Japan at Camp Tama ex- healthy and sustainable salmon ploring the outdoors in an intertribal relations insight through population for commercial and work with Tribes in the Pacific national setting. Camp Tama Tribal harvesting. recreation area is about a 60 mi- Northwest, Montana, and Ore- gon. She looks forward to using nute drive from where her father Leslie credits the Confederated was stationed at Tachikawa Air Salish and Kootenai Tribes and her Tribal relations background in the work ahead of her. She has Force Base. She thoughtfully the Confederated Warm Spring recalls her formative years and Tribes with teaching her the value the unique perspective of having worked at nearly every level of the says “Well, I guess you could de- of effective government-to- scribe me as adventurous.” government relationships. She Forest Service and uses her experience as filters to use in considera- fondly recalls spending a week Leslie attributes encouragement of with FS officers, from multiple tion of policy and directives that senior staff around her in helping are made in headquarters and will agencies, in a workshop on under- her develop confidence and learn- standing the Confederated Tribes’ be implemented in the field. ing to thoughtfully contribute perspective for natural resource Spring 2012 Page 3 Partnering With Tribes on Landscape Restoration The importance for new, creative ues to collaborate with the USDA- Indian Community, Hannahville collaborative initiatives increasing- FS and American Indian Tribes in (Potawatomi) Indian Community, ly defines the future direction of plant restoration efforts across Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippe- the Forest Service. An excellent North America. Key focal points wa Indians, and the Lac Vieux example is the Eastern Regions of a major partner, the Intertribal Desert Band of Chippewa Indi- partnership known as ZAAGKII Nursery Council include: technol- ans. Northern Michigan Universi- Wings & Seeds Project, now in its ogy transfer and sharing, conserva- ty's Center for Native American fifth year. Partners and activities tion education, preservation of Studies also serves as a key partner are cross-cultural, cross- ecological knowledge, reforesta- in the cross-cultural mentoring The first native plants greenhouse on an Ameri- generational, and multifaceted, tion, restoration, and nursery program. The Cedar Tree Insti- can Indian Reservation while maintaining a consistent training. Meetings are held annu- tute coordinates relationships and east of the Mississippi! focus on landscape restoration. ally and participation is open to components of the Zaagkii Project The program objectives and tools both tribal and non-tribal mem- in consultation with Jan Schultz, focus on the essential ecological bers who work for or with tribal Botany, Non-Native Invasive Spe- roles that native plants and polli- agencies. Our partners have cies, and Special Forest Products nators play in the sustainability of attended this meeting for three Program Leader of the USDA-FS Partners and natural ecosystems. The project consecutive years and Dr. Scott Eastern Region. includes ethnobotany research, at- Herron, an ethnobotanist of An- activities are cross- risk youth involvement, native ishinaabe (Odawa) lineage, re- For additional information regard- ing the ZAAGKII Wings & Seeds plant restoration, regional tribal mains a consultant for the Agen- cultural, cross- workshops, vocational mentoring, cy. Larry Heady, Eastern Region Project, please contact Larry Heady, R9 Tribal Relations Spe- and technology transfer. Tribal Relations Specialist USDA- generational, and FS, a Delaware (Lenape) tribal cialist at 414.297.3777 or The word Zaagkii comes from the [email protected] or Jan Schultz, member, also serves as key advisor multifaceted, while Ojibwe language and translates to and liaison for tribal communi- R9 Botany NNIS Special Forest "the loving gifts which come from Products Pr.

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