Tribes Walk Out of Dam Removal Committee Meeting
“On June 17, 2019 the Wiyot Tribe and Round Valley Indian Tribes walked out of an ad hoc committee meeting in solidarity with the Bear River after Bear River, a federally recognized tribe, was asked to leave by Congressman Huffman’s staff. ” [Photo provided]
Last month, Humboldt County, Sonoma County Water and Power Agency, Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission, and California Trout took steps to take over PG&E’s orphaned Eel River dams and diversion to the Russian River (Potter Valley Project or PVP). Absent from this effort are the people who have served as stewards of the Eel River for time-immemorial – the Round Valley Indian Tribes, the Wiyot Tribe, and Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria. In response, the tribes have formed a Coalition to support dam removal and demand a seat at the table with counties and conservation groups on this issue. On June 17, 2019 the Wiyot Tribe and Round Valley Indian Tribes walked out of an ad hoc committee meeting in solidarity with the Bear River after Bear River, a federally recognized tribe, was asked to leave by Congressman Huffman’s staff.
“Our People have subsisted on Eel River fisheries since the beginning of time,” noted Wiyot Tribal Chairman Ted Hernandez. “Any successful effort to restore our River must include the Tribes as full partners or else it is doomed to failure. For the first time in history, our three Tribes are standing together in solidarity to solve a common problem.” Many fisheries experts have stated that the 130 foot tall Scott Dam is impassible for salmon, hosts invasive pike minnow that prey on salmon, and harms water quality. The diversion point to the Russian River at the smaller Cape Horn dam is small, but the timing of diversion is important for fish migrations.
Cal Trout and the Counties filed a Notice of Intent (NOI) with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) laying out plans to create a new ‘Regional Entity’ that would be formed through an act of the California legislature. This new Entity would then submit a full license application. The groups cite mutual goals for the effort that include “minimizing adverse impacts to water supply reliability in both basins” and “improving fish passage and habitat on the Eel River sufficient to support recovery of native anadromous fish populations.” These goals line up directly with the interests of the tribes on this issue.
To date, the Planning Agreement that led to the Notice of Intent (NOI) included mention of Round Valley Indian Tribe but not the Wiyot Tribe or Bear River Rancheria. In contrast to this exclusion, previously, Humboldt County adopted a resolution that recognized the importance of the Eel River to all three tribes in the Coalition. “We want to be clear. All of the Eel River Tribes must be treated with the respect that a sovereign Indian Nation deserves in this process,” said James Russ, Chairman of the Round Valley Indian Reservation. “To deny any of us our right to defend our own cultural resources is a continuation of the genocidal policies that Governor Newsom just apologized for just a week prior to this meeting.” As a federally recognized tribe, the Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria is subject to Section 106 Government to Government Consultation. The Coalition states that Government to Government Consultation with Bear River will be required for any agreement to move forward.
“We are willing to roll up our sleeves and work with Russian River interests on a solution we can all live with, but they absolutely must let all three Eel River Tribes have a seat at the table,” concludes Edwin Smith, Chairman of the Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria. A truly collaborative approach is inclusive and balanced. The Coalition is asking our Humboldt County Board of Supervisors and other interest groups to put pressure on the rest of the ad hoc committee to provide Bear River a seat at the table.
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Its time for huffman to get a different job,public office wasn’t meant to be a career.you serve youre country a term or two and move on.with all the power pig corruption these days these slimeballs are getting richer and richer the longer they can bogart.lets see some fresh faces next elections think new and improved people !!!!
Does that include Mitch McConnell…
if you include McConnell, then you have to include that [edit] nancy pelosi and the very corrupt dianne feinstein
I was poking a little fun at both the author of the comment (you know the sauce for the goose/sauce for the Republican thing) and Mitch McConnell (not my favorite politician) So yes, if we do say that Huffman and McConnell are subject to term limits, Pelosi and Feinstein would be also.
No kidding. Is there a reason or explanation why we don’t have mandatory term limits on all elected officials. The never ending brew of politics would be a lot more responsive to voters if the reelected were tilled under every 4-6 years.
These people start at county level, get retirement package there and then move on to state levels, get retirement package there and then U S level and get retirement package there which is all paid for by us and then they force anything they want on us, like the health insurance that they don’t have to use because they have a better plan that we pay for.
M.girl – name the politicians you know that actually worked for a government agency and then tan for an elected office? Your statement about county employees is unfounded and 1% accurate at best.
I did not say they were a county employee, II said they started at county level whether it was on the board of supervisors or as the mayor of a city, they get retirement from that position and then they run for an office somewhere else and get retirement from there and it just goes on and on and then they get lifetime health insurance on us.
When an american soldier dies in combat, the spouse receives a a folded flag, personal items and a $ 5,000 to $ 7,000.00 check. No benefits, or any other type of government’s aid.
Often you see a war Veteran in the streets of our most populated cities, begging for a hand out.
When a Senator dies, his/her spouse receive from our government, every benefit you can possibly write in this paper. And let’s not forget the whapping $ 250.000 a year salary they have managed to give themselves by passing laws we never read about in the papers.
No where near accurate. https://www.thebalancecareers.com/active-duty-death-entitlements-3356940. There are one time payments of $100,000 for a combat related death, retirement/survivor benefits for minor children and a parent.
Term limits are determined by voting. To impose another measure is to empower lobbies and the masters they serve. Which are not beholden to the people.
This land belong to our ancestors we must all tribes to sit at the table
Yes.like LGBTQ, blacks, Hispanic, tribal should be recognized above all. We are the indigenous peoples here always.. and still.
Why should anyone be put above anyone else? In America everyone is to be treated equally, implementing a racial caste system now is just as evil as having one before, it doesn’t matter who is on top.
You are entitled to state your opinion…I ask of you please, expand your mind about what is happening outside your circle of influence. You must first understand “priviledge” before making a blanket statement. I submit with respect.
FGlover, I do not feel respected. I feel dismissed by a catch phrase as if being white (I suppose- have had it tested ) means nothing I say matters, which is of course the reason such phrases exists. To belittle the experience of others in a way that blame can still be attached to them while avoiding blame while doing the same . What a dilemma to hate based on being hated yet find a way to satisfactorily not feel bad for doing the same thing. That’s not privilege. That’s a super power like spiderman’s.
Yes tribal peoples first. This will happen according to prophesy. No, the white Caucasian will NOT be treated equally. LOOK WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO THIS LAND ALREADY.! There are consequences you must face.
I am 99.5% European with .5% other including a Native American technically there is no such thing as white people unless you are talkin about Caucasian from the Caucasian Mountain area technically white people are European and I agree 100% Europeans f***** this world up not just America and the land needs to be given back to the original people as in Indians European colonization needs to start going away technically the Indian should have free reign of the land Why Us Europeans are populated to a tiny area until we f****** die off and give the lands back to its original natives
Tiffany, would anyone take seriously the thoughts of someone who admits to hating themself so much? Either you are right and your thoughts are therefore worth despising or you are wrong and your thoughts are worth despising. Or you’re a troll and still worth despising.
~keep it basic;
Article XI Sec. 7 – When the duration of any office is not provided for by this Constitution, it may be declared by law, and if not so declared, such office shall be held during the pleasure of the authority (YOU and ME), making the appointment; nor shall the duration of any office not fixed by this Constitution ever exceed four years. (emphasis)
California State Constitution (1849)
how about keeping it honest,
you mis quote the CA constitution,
just to make your point.
Well, quote it like it is,
and it will not make your point.
Can you figure it out?
Try again.
~i’m Not quoting the CA constitution, as is noted at the end – California State Constitution (1849).
In our system having term limits on politicians but not on lobbyists would do more harm than good. On the surface it sounds like a great idea, but with our current political system and financing it would do more harm than good.
~so you’re good with another round of Bass, Fennell and Bohn?
If you want them out, vote them out. If you think you could offer a better choice, run yourself. If they are not voted out then the bottom line is that more people who bother voting favor them staying. That seems closer to following the will of the people than a law saying go whether good or bad.
~you will never again out-vote these people. It will take individual acts of defiance and massive displays of civilian disobedience to get back the rights we have allowed them to take away. It will take Zealots, not moderates and shy, not reach-across-the-aisle RINOs to right this ship and restore our beloved country to its former status.
“Those who come after us will have to risk their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to bring back the Republic that this generation has timidly frittered away due to “white guilt” and political correctness.” –An American Veteran……… Semper-Fi
Term limits exist for the State Legislature now. So what has been the result? A newly elected member arrives not knowing anything so spends his first term being told what to do by his staff, his party and lobbyists. It’s a complicated thing to make laws these days with precendents created by the legislature for more than a century, law suits, flash media reporting and organized opposition to everything. By the time he’s learned where the toilets are in the Capital building, he is busy accumulating funding for his reelection campaign. Then, if he gets reelected, he might have learned enough to write a piece of legislation that matters to him but he will not see it through to completion because it will take longer than he’s got left. And he’ll be busy getting it together to run for another office as he’s been termed out. What term limits have done is create a group of ravenous, ambitious professional politicians who do not value serving their constituency but look at each office as a step in the game to reach the Oval Office. I’d rather have someone thinking long term. If I don’t like their thinking, I vote for someone else.
It’s hard enough to find people who wants to do the job, will not go on a power trip and still will care about the people back home. If you find one, you don’t want him termed out. The electorate has the power to choose a new candidate every few years. Because they do a shitty, self serving job of choosing is not reason to give them more opportunity to repeat their mistakes.
Government is basically run by the Lobbyiest and Staff, the latter tend to keep working in the legislator’s office no matter who the legislator is.
There should be no paid lobbyists.
~how true.
But of course, the localites (persons in gov’t), push for lobbying.
The US Constitution guarantees the right to petition the government. If someone wants to pay some else to petition for them, they have that right. So there’s little to be done except to make rules about transparency and stop under cover bribery.
The best way to reduce the influence of big buck lobbyists is to have entrenched SOBs who do not need to gather funds for relection campaigns because they feel secure in the support of their public. They may not act on every want from every constituent but their constituents know what they are electing and it won’t be staff or lobbyists.
Term limits is not the magic solution that some think it is.
Except, we’re not petitioning a government. It’s been a corpse (corporation) 150 years.
“Term limits is not the magic solution that some think it is.”
~how would we know? I think it was you, Guest, who posted something referring to Pelosi (maybe shak?), anyway, the year next to her name said 1992!! Good God, how old are these reptiles? And, why are they still breathing?
To quote some old dude, “politicians and diapers must be changed often and for the same reason”
Had never heard that but I love it!
Mark Twain.
Also, “Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it.”
The care of natural resources should be dealt with by the people it impacts the 3 tribes whose homes are being impacted should have a voice a loud voice in the decision making process
Huffman is a phoney. He will sell out the north coast to serve sonoma,marin, and mendocino every time. Continued diversion of the eels water must end, and the govt needs to assist in recovery of the fish runs. This joint management plan to continue diversion is a cop out by Cal Trout. It shows their bias against our area. Thats why i have never joined it. We need squawfish elimination, increased summer and early fall flows and a big fish hatchery in the lower river to replant extinct runs in many tributaries. The tribes should have a voice. Extreme bad faith by Huffman here.
Upvote
Why were they told to leave? Like I told Trump. Mr. Huffman. Maybe you should leave America. Go to a country where people (women) are treated the way you treat them. Changes have been made already. There is no turning back. Some people now are mending what has been broken and working together to make The USA a better place. Like all families of difference, we argue, but eventually. A decision is made that is agreeable on all sides.
Dam removal! Let the river flow Wild and Free!
remember you were not here first. as has been proven that there are older populations that yours concored in order to claim the lands . yours was just the last to lose. Now instead of attempting to claim some sort of provodance by casting judgement based upon skin color , you wished to point out how much your people have been doing to correct the effects of the dam then you would have my ear. but your comment as it stands is nothing more than racist dribble and should be flushed just as any other racist comment
Unfortunately that is not true. There was only the indigenous people living here. We are the protectors of mother earth, and that shouldn’t be a difficult thing to comprehend, but it is sad but true.
This thread is so needed to be discussed in it’s own forum. Term limits , greedy needy self righteous serving politicians.. what ever you call them doesn’t matter because as long as they’re not any consequence for their lack of respect for the people that elect them. It will be what it is..
Now to the thread I am very happy to see the tribes together as one and wish it could be like this on a lot more issues.. it’s because the government found a way to keep you divided their able to continue to break treaty and with the genocide of the true american… The native american people have long been apart of my life as my grandmother was a full blooded squaw.. and I feel pain seeing the things that’s went on and still go..
Stand strong . Keep together and unite as one.
I disapprove of the fact that you call ANY native woman a squaw that is not a term you should use just as no man wants to be called a red stick that is a European slang for we women
How did the Lakota get the Black Hills then? Their homeland was in Minnesota. The Comanche were living with the Shoshone before being pushed South and further displacing the people of the Southern Great plains. Iroquois tribes pushed west and massacred people of the Ohio Valley subsequently settled by Algonquin speaking tribes like the Shawnee. The idea that Natives have always lived on the land they currently claim is blatantly false. Stewards of the Earth they are not but as savage a conqueror as any White Man.
It is that kind of ‘all Indians are the same’ mentality that fed the genocidal actions of the land grabbing white race in California. It is a false equivalence to think that what those Native cultures did applies to the local Native cultures. Many early accounts from the 1840’s through the 1860’s noted that California Natives were much more pacific than those east of the Rockies. One horrifying remark from an 1840’s described their usefulness as potential workers stated that they would work for a pittance and that they “take to the whip better than the blacks”. Robert White, overseer at the Mendocino Reservation and founder of Cahto described the temperament of the Natives he was with as mild. Yes, they did fight each other from time to time, but there is no evidence of the Wiyot, Yuki, or Athabaskan speaking tribes along the Eel River basin violently displacing previous groups as was done by different cultures back East. If you do know differently, please cite your evidence. I believe that many hundreds of years of occupation for the Athabaskan groups, and thousands of years for the Yuki and Wiyot qualifies them having a voice in these matters. (I don’t really know the right number of years of Wiyot occupation-please excuse me).
Please study our history deeper and and go way farther back into history if you mind . that not how I see my people . The land and water were perfect before you
Native People have inhabited the continent since before time was being counted in Europe no matter where we live on the land it is in some way OUR land wherever indigenous people live in America some indigenous people lived before we are all original to this area
Totally agree w/you, to ask 1 Tribe to leave,why?You’re all important, they need to address you as such. North America was beautiful until Europeans came. Once they stole your land they were to lazy to work it, they shipped in slaves. Being Caucasian makes me feel shame. I do have Blackfeet Indian per my father. Don’t ever give up, you were here 1st, larger your group is all the better! Never give up!
Upvote
If you mean deporting white illegal immigrants, ICE does it. If you mean ICE should have reported white immigrants starting back in the 1400s, that was attempted but not successful. Siukd be a lesson to all.
Huffman thinks he knows everything. I am not Indian, but I sure as heck stand behind their effort to be included by getting Bear River a chair at the table. They are not trying to stop anything, they just want to move forward and be involved in restoring the fish in the river.
And they should be included and so should any Indian tribe that uses fishing for subsistence.
Thank you. I agree.
Thank you. I agree completely.
Its so odd because Huffmans folks have been extremely helpful with the tribe regarding getting Klamath dams demolished.
Im not a fan of politicians but ive heard multiple situations where Huffman/his people did a good job.
They’ve returned my calls everytime, more than i can say for our local supervisors!
How come Huffman kicked out the Bear River people? seriously ?
I doubt that he had the authority. The subject matter dwarfs Huffman’s clout.
~the offices are all vacant.
Without justice, there’s just us.
The true stakeholders claim their rightful seats at the table…
Go, tribes! Nicely done.
Essentially, what I see the tribes doing is an attempt at an uncomprimising land grab. Fanfare for the percieved underdog gains public momemtum through their press releases and therefore public pressure is put on those in positions of power. This an obvious manipulative tactic used in politics. Problem for the tribes is that our government is set up to reinforce private property rights ao they wont get far past the state courts (let alone supreme court). The tribes really should be careful because once they lose the private property rights argument, precedence makes it so going back to a compromise is almost impossible.
That’s right. We need people with power and resources to assist us in our efforts. We can make people aware at the very least. We just get very discouraged when we are dismissed and treated badly. People should put themselves in our situation just to see how it feels.
Give the tribes Their water,too. Reminds me of school yard bullies getting away with selfishness .
Well said.
Why is there no explanation for Huffman’s action. This is fairly signifigant isn’t it.
Kym, can you at least contact his office for an answer to this?
I realize any answer will be political obfuscation, but still….
Was there any comment from the Congrsman’s staff for this? No one is quoted in the story.
Thanks!
Support the Tribes.
Contact Huffman’s office and let them know these meetings should be open to the public, and not held behind closed doors.
Every meeting should be recorded and posted online too.
https://huffman.house.gov/contact/
Yes, good points H.O.
I would also like the meetings to be open to the public but fear that disruptive comments from the public may be disruptive to the conduct of the meeting. I do agree that a transcript and video of the entire meeting should be posted on the Congressman’s Huffman website. Minutes are insufficient to capture the essence of the discussion.
I also think it is unfortunate that Congressman Huffman asked the Bear River Tribe to leave and I would like to know the reason why. I believe the tribes should definitely be at the table, they were certainly not represented when the dams were put in and I will include that when I contact the Congressman.
The tribal representatives would also be another outlet to the general public about the issues discussed at the meetings, just as this press release is presented through Kym is now under discussion.
And kim that goes for mitch mconell as well.your mistaking on your opinion of me ive been a Democrat for many years.I voted Republican in the California seats last elections and will do so again because im totally and completely made sick,and grossed out by the democratic party in California.theyve gone too far in there theft and unconstitutional policies and need to be removed !!!! For the sake of the common people.
Im a liberal at heart but these Corparate sellouts are not liberal.
That ended with jerry Brown(a great govener in my opinion)
As true Americans all three tribes should b represented having a seat at the table.
Restore the fish and wildlife for the tribes. This is their livelihood.
Why would the Huffman ask the Tribe to leave? That is outstanding! Mni wičoni.. Water is life!
Seriously Leary of Corporate Democrats! Strong showing of Solidarity! Spot on!
Based on their pic..they look NON-INDIAN ..Round Valley owes my company certain funds for reneging on a conference they signed up for..no respect for Indian and veteran owned businesses!!
That is irrelevant to this discussion. They are indigenous people regardless of how they look. We will fight for mother earth no matter what, and we are accustomed to all the hate and ignorance, but we don’t really care because we have to do what we were put here to do.
If you insult folks by evicting them from a meeting, don’t expect them to just go away. They’re gonna go away mad. Basic human relations.
People that have never seen these areas, or lived truly in these areas are the ones who ultimately decide the fate if this project. 🤤🤤 Does this make any sense at all even a half of a percent of sense? NO. They do not possess the experience over the multiple decades and beyond that the tribes do. Being aware of the history of how traditional river flows were and salmon populations is beyond value, priceless information to back the stance. To have a 5 minute snapshot or read a dated paper with the same old pablum fed recycled information destroys any development of scientific sensibility in this scenario.
Stand strong tribes and keep speaking the truth. Some ears will hear…we are not ALL deaf. ♥🌱💯
What happened to the 1rst amendment. How come you don’t delete the others who have a different political opinion than yours
C’mon, as far as I know, I haven’t deleted you unless you posted under another name. I have however, been gone and comments aren’t being approved as fast as you might like.
I find avoiding politics keeps me off moderation. Just sayin’!
I’ve never seen so many comments on the subject I agree that the tribes should never have been kicked out of the meeting they certainly have interest in it why aren’t these meetings public that’s another good question
Yeah it did pop up sorry too pull the 1rst amendment card.your pretty good about lettin us all exercise our right !!!!
First, Humanity isn’t that old…
Second, were all just humans.
I think both of those are pretty secure knowledge in the scientific world…
The minimal amount of water diverted, I believe it’s around 5 percent and the majority of it is stored from winter rains in pilsbury supply something like 400,000 people with water and a unfathomable amount of agriculture. It doesn’t produce much power but it does fill Mendocino and pilsbury lakes. Does it have a small effect on the fish? Probably. Fire back up the fish hatcheries problem solved. Oh yeah dfw doesn’t want “those” fish in the river. That water heading south does a hell of allot for northern California’s economy while have a minimal impact on the downstream people. It’s called the greater good
Three takeaways from this article;
1. One tribe was asked to leave and they all left. Why? Why would Huffman’s staff ask them to leave? Not very neighbourly are you Mr. Huffman. Up here we try to be neighbourly to each other Mr. Huffman, even those we don’t really like.
2. Wiyot Tribal Chairman Ted Hernandez; “… For the first time in history, our three Tribes are standing together in solidarity to solve a common problem.” About time Mr. Hernandez; what took so long?
3. Many fisheries experts have stated that the 130 foot tall Scott Dam is impassible for salmon. Boy Howdy on that. An NBA center can’t even jump that high. Anyone expect a fish to be able to?
The world is my reality show.
That’s right. We need people with power and resources to assist us in our efforts. We can make people aware at the very least. We just get very discouraged when we are dismissed and treated badly. People should put themselves in our situation just to see how it feels.
Oglala yes! EMPATHY is a learned skill a lot of folks never get exposed to.
It can take a long time to cultivate that and some people just aren’t up to it.
Sigh…
🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟
It’s because the lobbyists want it this way.
Jarod huffman for dishwasher or busboy in 2022
LCO has a press release from Huffman although it is not exactly clear about what hapened either- https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2019/jul/22/tribes-say-theyve-been-left-out-potter-valley-proj/
Apparently this press release about walking out came from True North and they have not responded yet to Huffman’s press release. Hopefully Kym will get a clarification.
Kelley is working on a story. Hopefully, tomorrow.