Legislature’s ‘Christmas tree bill’ includes money for Willamette Falls Trust

SALEM -- Despite an appeal from Grand Ronde Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy, the Oregon Legislature provided a $45 million grant to the Willamette Falls Trust, to purchase the 60-acre Moore’s Island at Willamette Falls, in its so-called “Christmas tree bill,” an end-of-session boon to various organizations seeking funding.

Kennedy had asked Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek in an early June letter to deny or at least delay funding the Willamette Falls Trust, writing, “This project is misguided, disingenuous and comes at a time when our own Tribe is in litigation with the state’s largest utility over our ability to practice our culture.”

Willamette Falls Trust is a nonprofit organization comprising the Yakama, Siletz, Umatilla and Warm Springs Tribes, along with government representatives from Oregon City, Metro and the state. It is working in partnership with Portland General Electric. The Tribes comprising the Willamette Falls Trust are backing a bid by PGE to condemn and seize land at Willamette Falls where the Grand Ronde seasonal fishing platform is located.

Tribal Communications Director Sara Thompson said the Legislature failed Oregonians.

“The Oregon Legislature failed to provide for Oregonians in so many areas like transportation and education,” she said. “People may lose their jobs and the fact that they found $45 million for a project that has shown no real progress over the years is a slap in the face to all taxpayers.”