KWSO News Fri., Nov. 30, 2018

The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon became the 11th tribe to sign an agreement with the University of Idaho meant to bolster tribal relations. The memorandum of understanding formalizes a collaborative relationship between UI and Northwestern tribes that have signed, and it recognizes tribal sovereignty and offers in-state tuition to tribal members. UI first entered into the agreement in 2007 with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, the Nez Perce Tribe, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation and the Spokane Tribe of Indians. The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation became the 10th signatory in 2015.

It’s the Madras Girls Basketball White Buffalo Classic tonight at the Buffalo Dome. Remember you can listen to broadcasts of tonight’s game, and tomorrow’s game on KWSO. The Madras boys varsity have their home opener tomorrow night when they host Sisters at 7:00. KWSO will broadcast that game too.

The Madras High School Swim Team will host the Madras Relays Tournament tomorrow with Bend, Klamath Union, Mt. View, Redmond & Ridgeview all participating.

Oregon Department of State Lands director Vicki Walker ruled this week that her earlier decision granting the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde the right to erect a fishing platform and fish for salmon at Willamette Falls will stand. The three tribes opposing the Grand Ronde’s fishing platform – the Umatilla, Yakama and Warm Springs – had asked Walker to reconsider her decision. Portland General Electric, which operates a dam at the falls, also appealed, citing safety concerns. Grand Ronde Tribal Council chairwoman Cheryle Kennedy in a statement said the tribes “…ceremonial fishing platform restores an important cultural practice for the Grand Ronde Tribe.”

A new national report shows that climate-related extreme events such as heat waves, wildfires, droughts and floods, are already affecting human health and welfare, but Oregon is among Northwest states taking major steps to reduce health risks. The recently released Fourth National Climate Assessment provides examples of actions underway in communities to reduce the risks associated with climate change. The chapter about the Northwest emphasizes that an increase in climate-related extreme events has already resulted in health effects. These include heat- and respiratory-related emergency department visits, harmful algal blooms, and mental health risks associated both with natural disasters and with gradual changes in landscapes and livelihoods caused by climate stressors. Populations identified most at risk include children, tribes, farmworkers, and low-income households in both urban and rural areas. A project that the Oregon Climate and Health Program led in partnership with members of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs is featured as a resource for understanding some of the health concerns described.