Tribal Council adopts climate adaptation plan

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals editor

During the last 10 years, the Grand Ronde Tribal community has been affected by 20 extreme heat related events, more than 30 winter storm events, six smoke events and several power outages.

Due to these increasingly frequent and severe climate events, Tribal Council adopted a climate adaptation plan at its Wednesday, June 3, meeting.

“These (climate) changes are disrupting cultural practices and daily life,” a Legislative Action Committee recommendation stated. “The climate adaptation plan serves as an overarching, flexible framework that builds on existing Tribal plans and ongoing efforts. It is intended to serve as a living document that evolves alongside Tribal priorities, community needs, funding opportunities and changing climate conditions.”

During a Tuesday, June 2, LAC meeting, Tribal Community Development Manager Kristen Svicarovich said the work had been funded by the First Nations Development Institute in collaboration with Cascadia Consulting Group and Walker Macy architects.

“It’s really exciting because it’s our first climate adaptation plan,” she said. “We want Tribal members to be able to read and review the plan, and we’re happy to put out the plan through the (Tribal) member app.”

Tribal Council member Matthew Haller said that he “highly recommended” that fellow Tribal members read the document.

“The adaptation plan is something that’s much more diverse than what you would imagine,” he said. “It talks about everything from climate control to how food sovereignty and native plants will help benefit and aid in that. I appreciate all the work that has been done on this.”

In other news, Tribal Council:

• Approved a limited waiver of sovereign immunity for Glowforge software, which will be used for enhanced curriculum and activities at the Tribe’s Early Childhood Education Program;
• Approved an emergency amendment to the Tribal Fish and Wildlife Ordinance to provide that a Tribal Elder or Tribal member who is physically unable to hunt may transfer their hunting tag to another member under the Tribe’s memorandum of understanding with the state of Oregon, effective for the 2026 hunting season;
• Approved a housing study and needs assessment that identifies current and future housing stock and includes strategies to encourage development;
• Approved a loan from the Tribe to Spirit Mountain Gaming Inc. for up to $1.3 million to cover costs for an exterior painting and repair project for the casino and RV clubhouse;
• Approved an application to the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care for the Birth Through Five Literacy Plan grant for up to $460,000;
• Approved an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants for up to $615,000, two applications for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant for up to $950,000 each and an application for the Fire Prevention and Safety grant for up to $210,000;
• Approved the Tribal Police Department using the Law Enforcement Data Systems database for Tribal employees or applicants in non-criminal justice positions;
• And approved enrolling one infant and 26 non-infants into the Tribe because they meet the enrollment requirements in the Tribal Constitution and Enrollment Ordinance.

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