Scholarship awards at ITC symposium

The Indian Timber Council met this month at North Bend for the Thirty-Ninth Annual National Indian Timber Symposium.

Warm Springs Councilman Orvie Danzuka, the tribes’ Forest Manager, coordinated a presentation on Unmanned Aerial Systems, and their applications for tribal Natural Resources.

Bobby Brunoe, Natural Resources general manager, made a presentation on the Tribal Forest Protection Act. This was in regard to fuels reduction practices on forest land bordering reservations.

The Indian Timber Council (ITC), founded in 1976 in Warm Springs, now has membership of over 60 tribes and Native Alaska corporations.

At this year’s symposium, hosted by Coquille Tribe, the Timber Council awarded 28 Truman D. Picard Memorial Scholarships.

The scholarships are for students pursuing careers in the Natural Resources field. Three of the scholarships went to high school students, 23 to undergraduate students, and two to graduate students.

Councilman Danzuka is the administer of the Memorial Scholarship, and organizes the fundraising raffle.

Two of the scholarships this year went to Warm Springs members Kristi Olney and Karlen Yallup.

At the symposium, the Timber Council elected the officers for the year: President Phil Rigdon (Yakama), vice president, Vernon Stearns Jr. (Spokane), secretary Orvie Danzuka (Warm Springs), and treasurer Tim Miller (Grand Portage).

Councilman Danzuka is also the ITC Education Committee chair.

The Indian Timber Council (ITC) is a nonprofit nation-wide consortium of Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, and individuals dedicated to improving the management of natural resources of importance to Native American communities.

The ITC works cooperatively with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, private industry, and academia to explore issues and identify practical strategies and initiatives to promote social, economic and ecological values while protecting and utilizing forests, soil, water, and wildlife.

The purpose is to promote sound, economic management of Indian forests, facilitate communication, collaborate with the BIA and others interested in improving the management of Indian natural resources.

The ITC helps to establish natural resource-based business enterprises; and encourages the training and development of Indian foresters.
The Coquille Tribes hosted the 2015 symposium at the Mill Casino and Hotel at North Bend.