PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CHENEY, WA PERMIT NO 20 VOLUME 36, NUMBER. 2 February Edition INSIDE March 11, 2010 Wenatchi Fishing Rights In Courts Hands Council Corner ............ 2, 3 Tribal Voices ....................9 Tribal News.................. 4, 5 Resolution Index ............10 Health News ....................6 Farewells ....................... 11 Colville Tribe Supports Okanagan Nation’s Protest in Canada; Calls on BC Premier Not to Use Police Force NESPELEM, WA – T h e in the area, it held last month that Confederated Tribes of the Colville the Vernon, BC-based logging Reservation today sent a letter to company, Tolko Industries, could British Columbia’s Premier, Gordon begin harvesting timber in the Campbell, urging him not to use Browns Creek area, following an force to break up the Okanagan archeological investigation. Nation’s protest of clear-cut logging Tolko claims to have conducted in its territory. an archeological investigation of the The Colville Tribes “strongly area, but the Nation’s leaders believe support the Okanagan Nation and the it would be impossible to do so, given Okanagan Indian Band’ courageous the depth of the snowpack there. A stand against clear-cut logging” in judge in BC, however, refused to the Okanagans’ aboriginal territory, hear their evidence about the lack of Chairman Michael O. Finley stated a meaningful archeological survey, in a letter to Campbell. ”We stand opening the way for Tolko to begin in unity and solidarity with our logging operations. The Okanagans Okanagan relatives north of the 49th decided to blockade the logging site PORTLAND, OR – The battle to ish at the same site, essentially Simon, attorney for the Wenatchi good case and we have very good Parallel,” Finley wrote. He noted last month. between the Wenatchi constituent issuing a split decision and allowing tribe had twenty minutes, not three evidence…I’m just being cautious,” that the ecosystem in the Brown’s Most recently, Tolko has been tribe of Colville and the Yakima both tribes to ish at Icicle. days, to present the case to the three said Simon. Creek watershed is very delicate successful in a court action to allow Nation over ishing rights at the Yakima iled an appeal in the judge panel. The ruling will come in about six and should not be disturbed by the BC government to use its police Wenatchapam Fishery Reservation 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, on Both sides have spent the last month, late summer or early fall, unsustainable logging practices, and powers to break up the blockade. at Icicle Creek was heard at the the basis that the judge’s legal year and a half submitting briefs to at which time the three judges will Federal Court of Appeals in that the Okanagan’s efforts to stop “The situation is very, very serious conclusions ignored the plain the court. The hearing was basically issue a written decision and either Portland, OR, on March 2, 2010. language in the 1894 Agreement, logging here will help protect clean for the Okanagan protesters,” Finley for the judges to ask questions of afirm what the district court ruled In August 2008, U.S. District and that there’s nothing in there water supplies for all citizens of the said. “We have taken our request to the attorneys about issues that were Judge Garr M. King issued a that granted the Wenatchi any or they’ll reverse the district judge region. the highest level of the Canadian lengthy ruling and found that rights. The Colville Wenatchi then not clear or about any arguments on one issue or the other. The Okanagans are currently in a government, asking Premier of the the 1894 Agreement should be iled a cross appeal of his decision that have been provided in the “Between now and when the standoff with the British Columbia province not to use its police power interpreted to provide ishing rights that allows Yakima to continue to briefs. decision comes this fall, the ishing government, which is attempting to to quell this protest.” to the Wenatchi tribe at Icicle Creek. ish there. “I think it’s good to be optimistic season this spring can go forward allow logging in the Brown’s Creek The Colville’s letter asks Prime He also ruled that the agreement did The Court of Appeals hearing about our rights. We won with the as it has for the last three years,” watershed area. The Nation has been Minister Campbell to avoid using not relinquish the Yakima’s right is different than a trial, in that Don district judge, we put on a very he continued. in BC courts for ive years on this police force to settle the matter, and matter. allow the courts make a decision on While the courts have yet to the Okanagan’s land claims irst. rule on the Okanagan’s land claims Colville Tribes to Host Event To Encourage Participation in 2010 Census Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation NESPELEM, WA—The count of tribal members, and that we funding decisions, he said. Wakan, Tribal Partnership Specialist Colville Business Council Confederated Tribes of the Colville will receive more federal program The Colville Business Council for the US Census in Spokane, has Reservation will host a “Census dollars accordingly.” and Doreene Lezard, Partnership been assisting with preparations for Primary & General Election Kick-Off” event from 12 noon to Finley said that the Census Assistant for the US Census and a Saturday’s event and for other related 2010 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 20th, at questionnaire is very short--only Colville Tribal member, have been Census activities. the Nespelem Community Center. 10 questions--to assure an accurate working hard to assure that the 2010 Wakan said today that Census March 08 .....7:30 a.m. ....... OPENING DATE FOR FILING PETITIONS Event participants will have the count of the population on the Census gathers accurate data here, takers will be on the Colville March 19 .....4:00 p.m. ....... CLOSING DATE FOR FILING PETITIONS opportunity to enter a rafle for a 52- Reservation. The questionnaire does Finley said. He said that Duane Reservation in about two weeks. March 22 .....9:00 a.m. ....... DEADLINE FOR WITHDRAWING PETITIONS not ask for personal information March 22 .....10:00 a.m. ..... CERTIFICATION OF CANDIDATES inch lat screen television. Four lat- ............................................(ELECTION COMMITTEE) screen tvs, one for each Reservation such as a person’s Social Security April 30 ........8:00 a.m. ....... ORIENTATION OF DISTRICT ELECTION District, will be rafled at a later date. Number, citizenship status, or socio- ............................................BOARD MEMBERS Free t-shirts and other promotional economic information. To the Members of the May 01 .........8:00 a.m. ....... PRIMARY ELECTION POLLS OPEN materials will be available at the “We give more personal event Saturday, and refreshments information to the pizza delivery Polling Places: served. man when we pay him with a credit Confederated Tribes of the Inchelium Long House The purpose of the event is to card, or to people we can’t even see Keller Community Center encourage Colville Tribal members when we buy merchandise on the Colville Reservation Nespelem Community Center to participate in the 2010 US Census, Internet,” Finley said. “The basic Omak Senior Meal Site Michael O. Finely, Chairman of demographic information requested Dear Tribal Members: of tribal membership, which is the Colville Business Council, said by the Census can only help the May 01 .........8:00 p.m. ....... PRIMARY ELECTION POLLS CLOSE I am writing this “open letter” typically undercounted, could mean May 03 .........10:00 a.m. ..... CERTIFICATION OF POLL VOTING today. It will include an interactive Colville Tribes and its members to to you all to encourage your an increase of millions of dollars in May 06 .........10:00 a.m. ..... CERTIFICATION OF ABSENTEE VOTING kiosk which provides information get our fair share of federal funding. participation in the 2010 US Census. federal funding to the Colville Tribes June 11 ........8:00 a.m. ....... ORIENTATION OF DISTRICT ELECTION on how each part of the census Much of that funding is based on Census takers will be visiting your and our people. It could bring more ............................................BOARD MEMBERS questionnaire relates to funding for population, and that’s why we need homes beginning in mid-March, jobs to our membership, and provide June 12 ........8:00 a.m. ....... GENERAL ELECTION POLLS OPEN Reservation programs. this count to accurately relect the and I hope you will take the time to future generations with information “The results of the 2010 Census Polling Places: Same as Primary Election number of people who are here.” answer the brief questionnaire they needed to track their Tribal lineage. can mean increases in millions of Finley added that the information will provide. The information collected by June 12 ........8:00 p.m. ....... GENERAL ELECTION POLLS CLOSE dollars for the Colville Reservation, collected by the Census is kept June 14 ........10:00 a.m. ..... CERTIFICATION OF POLL VOTING This Census Survey, though only Census Takers will be reduced to based upon population data,” Finley conidential for 72 years. Personal 10 questions, will provide population a numerical basis, without any June 17 ........10:00 a.m. ..... CERTIFICATION OF ABSENTEE VOTING said. “Participation in the Census, information is removed from all July 08 .................................OATH OF OFFICE information that will help the Colville individual identification data, by our members, will assure that the Census data, and it is aggregated Tribes and its members to receive our before it is released to be used for federal government has an accurate numerically for purposes of federal fair share of federal program funding. funding purposes. All other Census These dollars are based on the Census Information will be kept conidential population numbers gathered every for 72 years.