Tribe’s lands bill introduced in Congress

By Alexander Bliven

Smoke Signals intern

Oregon congressional members Sen. Jeff Merkley and Rep. Andrea Salinas introduced legislation in Congress, Thursday, Sept. 17, marking the next step in an effort for the Tribe to reclaim ancestral lands and rebuild its reservation.

If approved, the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act would transfer approximately 18,626 acres of federal land in the Siuslaw National Forest to the Tribe.

The lands, currently managed by the U.S. Forest Service and located near the Grand Ronde Reservation, would more than double the approximately 16,000 acres the Tribe currently manages for forestry, recreation and wildlife conservation.

The transfer would help the Tribe continue rebuilding its reservation, economy and community following Restoration in 1983.

“This bill rights a historic wrong for the Grand Ronde who have worked tirelessly to return a just fraction of its ancestral territory,” Oregon Rep. Val Hoyle said in a press release. “The Grand Ronde Tribe are experts in sustainable forestry management and Indigenous ecology. They are the best stewards of these federal forest lands and will continue to do so for all Oregonians, as they have done since time immemorial.”

The Tribe’s Natural Resources Department manages Tribal lands and includes programs for forestry, fish and wildlife, recreation, silviculture and wildland fire.

The Tribe plans to use its wildland fire program to strengthen fire protection and emergency response within and around the area of the proposed transfer, as well as maintain public and recreational access to the lands.

On Friday, Aug. 28, Tribal Council members Kathleen George and Toby McClary met with Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation member and Hoyle legislative assistant Kwani-Fawn Marcellay at the Tribe’s Natural Resources offices.

The meeting provided an opportunity for Tribal officials to discuss the future of the bill with a member of Hoyle’s staff and demonstrate the Tribe’s forest-management practices.

During a Tuesday, Sept. 2, Legislative Action Committee meeting, George said Hoyle and her staff have been supportive of the bill and have helped the Tribe work toward its introduction and eventual passage.

George also said Marcellay provided the Tribe with insight into perspectives that congressional offices have heard from people who have opinions about the proposed land transfer.

“It’s always helpful for us to get that perspective so we can better respond and answer any questions that people might have,” George said. “We’re very proud of our work. We know that we do amazing forest management.”

George said the visit also gave the Tribe an opportunity to show Marcellay how its forest management practices differ from other approaches.

The Tribe has continued working with Oregon’s congressional delegation since several Tribal officials traveled to Washington, D.C., in late March to lobby for the land transfer.

McClary said the language of the bill had not changed since the March update and that the Tribe had anticipated its introduction would take place in September.

According to McClary, all of Oregon’s congressional delegation have been involved and supportive of the land transfer.

Following introduction, the bill will go through the congressional committee process before it can move forward toward becoming law. The Senate bill, introduced by Merkley, was referred to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

McClary said the Tribe has not received any concerns regarding the bill.

“I believe Rep. Hoyle’s office is ready to help propel our bill in this current session and Kwani (and staff) are just waiting for the green light,” he said.

George expressed pride in seeing Marcellay bring an Indigenous perspective to her work as a congressional staffer.

“It made me very proud to see her speaking very rooted in her Indigenous identity and letting people know that you can trust Tribes to manage their lands,” George said. “We know how to do this, we’ve been doing it for thousands of generations.”

George continued, “It made me feel good that those investments that the Spirit Mountain Community Fund is making in Native leadership really do an amazing job when they have that opportunity to both educate Congress about what it’s like to live as an Indigenous person in this world but also to do the work of their congressional staff as well.”