Tribal Council approves application to streamline forest management activities

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals editor

During its Wednesday, May 6, meeting, Tribal Council approved an application to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to begin the process of allowing the Tribe to conduct forest land management activities without federal approval under the Indian Trust Asset Reform Act.

The federal legislation was passed in 2016 and authorizes the Department of the Interior to “establish and carry out an Indian Trust Asset Management Demonstration Project,” according to the BIA website.

Under the project, Tribes who conduct forest land management or leasing activities can apply to participate. If selected, Tribes must submit an Indian Trust Asset Management Plan for the management of Tribal trust assets and may also submit Tribal forestry regulations.

“It will allow the Tribe to manage all of its forest lands without first getting approval through the BIA,” Tribal Natural Resources Department Manager Colby Drake said during a Tuesday, May 5, Legislative Action Committee meeting. “We’ve started the process and have our letter drafted and are working with the (Tribal Attorney’s Office). We’re here today to seek approval to keep going.”

In other news, Tribal Council:

• Approved a first reading of the Tribal Nonprofit Corporations Ordinance setting forth policies and procedures for the governance of nonprofit corporations under Tribal law and enabling the nonprofits to have tax-exempt status as per IRS code;
• Authorized a limited waiver of sovereign immunity with Apple under its business terms of service;
• Approved the 2026 Bonneville Power Administration funding agreement for $141,709 to continue to fund the hydrosystem compliance specialist position, which helps with Tribal representation on BPA processes;
• Approved appointing Angelina Montgomery to the Education Committee with a term ending March 31, 2028;
• Approved a limited waiver of sovereign immunity for the construction contract with Emery & Sons Construction Group LLC for the construction of civil improvements for phase one at tumwata village;
• Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Oregon City and easement for the design and construction of the public Riverwalk Project at tumwata This will allow the Tribe to deliver the project on behalf of the city and to use state parks funding as the design and construction leader on the project;
• And approved an emergency enrollment of five non-infants and enrollment of two infants into the Tribe because they meet the enrollment requirements in the Tribal Constitution and Enrollment Ordinance. So far, there have been 36 infants, 16 emergency non-infants and 92 non-infants enrolled into the Tribe in 2026.

Additionally, Tribal Council approved three authorizations to proceed which included: Increasing the Tribal Housing Department’s home repair grant from $10,000 to $15,000, adding an $8,000 dental implant benefit to the Skookum Health Assistance Program to begin July 1 and approving a $1.50 per gallon gas discount for all Tribal members at Grand Ronde Station (the Tribal gas station at Spirit Mountain Casino) through Monday, Aug. 3, to help ease the financial burden caused by high gas prices.

To watch the entire meeting, visit www.grandronde.org and click on the Videos tab.