Yurok Today. Tribe s research defines case. Special Tribal Election Edition SEE STATEMENTS FROM EAST, PECWAN AND SOUTH DISTRICT CANDIDATES ON PAGE 10

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Yurok Today. Tribe s research defines case. Special Tribal Election Edition SEE STATEMENTS FROM EAST, PECWAN AND SOUTH DISTRICT CANDIDATES ON PAGE 10"

Moris Ellis
5 years ago
Views:

Yurok Today SEPTEMBER EDITION The Voice of the

Tribal Election Edition SEE STATEMENTS FROM

1 Yurok Today SEPTEMBER EDITION The Voice of the Yurok People Tribe s research defines case Central Valley agro-industry loses lawsuit over Trinity Water SEE STORY ON PAGE 4 Special Tribal Election Edition SEE STATEMENTS FROM EAST, PECWAN AND SOUTH DISTRICT CANDIDATES ON PAGE 10

2. Tribal Council Ordinance: Thank you to all Tribal members who provided comments during the Public Hearing process.

We should be adopting this ordinance this month. VICE CHAIRPERSON SUSAN MASTEN Dear Tribal Members, This column is meant to keep you updated on the activities of the Tribe.

You will also be able to see this column on the Tribes website and Facebook page in an effort to reach out and provide information to you in a timely way. 1.

2 2. Tribal Council Ordinance: Thank you to all Tribal members who provided comments during the Public Hearing process. We have reviewed them all and have incorporated most and made the clarifications you recommended. You are a critical part of making viable ordinances and laws for the Tribe. We should be adopting this ordinance this month. VICE CHAIRPERSON SUSAN MASTEN Dear Tribal Members, This column is meant to keep you updated on the activities of the Tribe. Please let me know what type of information you want or concerns you may have about our Tribal government, programs or services. You will also be able to see this column on the Tribes website and Facebook page in an effort to reach out and provide information to you in a timely way. 1. Klamath River: Water temperatures in the river were running around 78 degrees and we are expecting the third largest run of salmon in recent history. These are similar water conditions to those experienced in 2002 when we had a massive fish kill on the lower 20 miles of the Klamath River. This year the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) made the decision to provide water to the River for fish, which resulted in a lawsuit filed against the government by the Central California farmers. The Tribe filed a motion to intervene in the Trinity fall flows case and played a signifant role in winning the case. 3. Annual Meeting: We tried something new this year at the annual meeting it was a big success. We had round table discussions around specific topics which allowed for tribal member input on a variety of issues. We will be publishing this information from Tribal members and answering questions asked during the meeting in the next issue of the Tribal Newsletter so that everyone has a chance to know what was accomplished at the meeting. Staff and Council will be looking at ways to utilize the great information shared with us. 4. Redwood National Park Service: During our first meeting with Superintendent Stephen Prokop I invited him to the Mattz/Brooks Brush Dance last month and surprisingly he and his wife actually came. I recently received a call from him expressing his gratitude for being invited and that it was one of his most memorable events of his life. He also called to let us know that RNP had identified some redwood logs that the Tribe could have. This is a great start and I m hopeful that we will have a good working relationship with this new Superintendent. 5. Requa Resort: Please join us in welcoming Tribal member Beavi McCovey as the new host for the campground. Contents Page 6...Transfer station saves resident s bucks Page 10...Candidates statements On The Cover Yurok Fisheries scientists testify in far-reaching legal case. Judge sides with Tribe and releases much need water for salmon. Page 14...THPO, Caltrans update cultural plan 2

3 YUROK ELECTION 6. Hotel/Casino: Welcome new Casino/Hotel Manager Construction activities are underway and the framing is completed for the bottom floor and they are working on the second level as I m writing this article. For employment opportunities call the TERO office at 7907) x TERO: Welcome Tribal member Don Barnes the new TERO Director. Don has been working hard to update TERO policies, and applications. With all the construction activities occurring this year/summer please make sure your TERO application is filled out and/or updated as this is where subcontractors/contractors and the Tribe goes to look for employees. Recently Don tried to reach 18 tribal members for a job opportunity and 11 phone numbers were not valid. You can t get a job if we don t have your current phone numbers. We need to know your skills, experience, education and your current contact information. 8. Elders Fish: We have already caught the fish for the Elders. Some fish has already been delivered and the rest of the fish will be delivered after the commercial fishery, so if you have not received your fish please call Lea Hewett at fishery (707) extension Commercial Fishery: Fishermen will be paid $5.00 pound this year. Please remember your cultural values while fishing this year: no fighting on the River, respect the River and each other while fishing. The estuary is a first come for fishing spots it is not safe, lawful, or proper to come late and set in front of someone if you are less than 50 feet in front of them. This is a time for everyone to give thanks to the creator for the opportunity to provide for your family. Be safe and take time to enjoy your time on the River. The walls go up on the Yurok Tribe s first hotel and casino. 10. Tribal Dial-a-Ride: The Tribe s Roads and Planning Department received a two-year grant for Dial-a-Ride. Klamath residents can now be picked up and taken anywhere in Klamath for $1.00 or go to Crescent City for a $1.00. The van is an eight passenger with wheel chair access and is set up to be self-sufficient after the first two years. I hope this newsletter finds you in good health and spirits. I m sad to report that we lost a good friend and Tribal leader this month, former East District Council Member, Vice Chair and Chairman Howard McConnell, please keep his family in your prayers. We also send our prayers and thoughts to each of you who have lost a loved one. Wok-hlew This is a time for everyone to give thanks to the creator. 3

4 Yurok science drives decision to up river flows Augmented Klamath River flow will help protect Chinook salmon KLAMATH, YUROK RESERVATION_ A federal court judge relied heavily on Yurok tribal science in a weighty decision to increase Klamath River flows, rather than send the water to California s Central Valley. The ruling, announced just after 5p.m. today, acknowledges the biological importance of supplemental flows for Klamath River salmon in a far-reaching legal case between the Bureau of Reclamation, the Yurok Tribe and others, against Central California industrial agricultural interests. The Yurok Tribe will always take whatever measures are necessary to protect the Klamath River, which is our lifeline, said Yurok Chairman Thomas P. O Rourke Sr. We intervened in this case on behalf the salmon and our people. In the days to come, the Klamath River flows will increase to 2,800 cubic feet per second, which is the same rate the Yurok fisheries experts made a scientific case for in the Fresno courtroom over the past two days. Originally, the Bureau of Reclamation, at the Yurok Tribe s urging, made additional water available as part of an effort to avert a fish kill. The 2002 fish kill occurred on the Yurok Reservation in a year with river conditions much like this one. The water was low and an abundant run of salmon was predicted to return to the Klamath. More than 33,000 Chinook and coho salmon died prior to reaching the spawning grounds. In early August, Westlands Water District and the San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority, both of which represent a large swath of California s multibillion dollar agricultural industry, filed suit to stop the water from being released. On August 12, a U.S. District Court judge in Fresno, California, issued a Temporary Restraining Order, which halted the delivery of water to the Klamath. Originally, the supplemental flows were slated to begin August 13. All Klamath fish biologists are in agreement that if the water districts request for a preliminary injunction was successful and flows left at status quo, there would be a significant risk of another largescale fish kill on the Klamath. The Yurok Tribe presented key science to the court with the testimony of its two witnesses, Senior Fisheries Biologist Michael Belchik and Dr. Joshua Strange. The key to the decision was the testimony of Dr. Josh Strange, a former tribal fisheries biologist. Judge Lawrence J. O Neill cited research completed by Dr. Josh Strange for the Yurok Tribe and noted his experience and background regarding the issues. This year, 272,000 fall-run salmon are expected to return to the river, nearly 1.7 times the number of fish that returned in The water release will come just before the majority of the Klamath River salmon begin to migrate upriver to spawn. The flows, scientifically justified by written declarations and oral testimony from both of the Yurok Tribal expert witnesses, are nearly identical to those initially proposed by the federal government earlier this month, said Yurok Fisheries Manager Dave Hillemeier. While the chances of a fish kill are not completely eliminated, if signs of a looming kill become evident, there is a contingency plan. If Yurok Tribal monitors, in collaboration with U.S. Fish and Wildlife fish pathologists, start to see significant numbers of diseased fish, the Tribe will seek to have flows doubled for up to seven days. The root cause of the 2002 fish kill was the combination of a low, warm river with inadequate flows and a large run. Two lethal fish diseases were passed between the cramped fish, whose health was already compromised by the overly warm water. The Klamath River is one of three rivers that produce the majority of the sport and commercial Chinook salmon harvest on the West Coast. The abundance of Klamath fall chinook often determines salmon season along the coast of Oregon and California, as well as throughout the Klamath Basin. A large portion of the water from the Trinity River, the Klamath s largest tributary, is already piped to the Central Valley. Humboldt County has a claim to 50,000 acre-feet of the exported water, which the Yurok Tribe would like to become available for salmon of the basin. 4

Respect of property is a cultural value The Yurok Tribal Council would like to remind the membership that respect of personal property is a cultural value.

5 Respect of property is a cultural value The Yurok Tribal Council would like to remind the membership that respect of personal property is a cultural value. Yurok landowners on the north and south sides of the Klamath River mouth have experienced an unfortunate amount of trespassing, littering and general misbehavior on their properties. Both property owners, the Brooks and Williams families, allow people to access their respective properties to fish, eel and enjoy the beautiful beaches. The families allow access because they firmly believe the cultural activities that take place on the beach are important and want to see these traditional activities passed on from one generation to the next. The Brooks family property, located on the north end of the spit, provides the only walking access to the north side of the mouth. The property is located midway up Requa Hill Road. The Williams family property is on south side. Its northern boundary is the edge of the water flowing out from the Klamath River. The parcel s is flanked by Redwood National and State Park land. On these properties, it is requested that tribal members refrain from activities that do not reflect the Tribe s cultural standards. Please do not drink alcohol, use drugs or litter while on either property. Those who do enter the parcels should also exercise the utmost caution while fishing or participating in other acceptable activities. Additionally, no one is permitted to camp, cut wood or drive vehicles on the south spit. The north spit access will remain open at night for eeling. The small parking area is very fragile. Please drive slowly so as to not tear up the road and watch out for the ditch. Please respect the landowners wishes and stay safe. 8

Ecosystem Management Model

Ecosystem Management Model What happens with water rights issues? Klamath Tribes Nez Perce Tribe Native American tribes, Yurok, Hupa, and Karuk tribes Confederation of the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin