ODFW commission OKs fishing, wildlife agreements with two coastal tribes

NEWPORT – The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission on Friday approved agreements with the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians during its meeting in Newport.

Consideration of a similar agreement with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde was delayed until the Aug. 4 meeting to allow more time for coordination, including discussion between tribes, the agency said in a news release Friday.

The agreements will advance the government-to-government relationships between the state and the tribes, enhance tribal sovereignty and give each tribe a stronger voice in protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife, and their habitats. The history and culture of the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon closely aligns with ODFW’s mission to protect fish, wildlife and their habitats, the agency said in a statement.

“Our tribe has always been a protector of those resources that are loved by all people in Oregon,” said Delores Pigsley, chair of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, during the meeting Friday.

Each agreement sets up a framework under which tribal members will participate in subsistence and ceremonial harvest of fish and wildlife resources that is licensed and managed by the tribal government in cooperation with ODFW and Oregon State Police.

Within certain areas set out in the agreements, enrolled members will participate in hunting, fishing, shellfishing, and trapping licensed by their tribe. Annual limits and areas for harvest by tribal members will be set by mutual consent between the tribe and ODFW.

“I grew up in a hunting and fishing family and have memories of going out with my grandfather and now my grandnephew,” said Brad Kneaper, chair of the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. “Being able to do that under the umbrella of tribal responsibility is extremely important to me and I know it’s the same for other members, too.”

The proposed agreements are comparable in scope to what the commission adopted with the Coquille Indian Tribe and the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians in 2022 and are intended to support tribal sovereignty and cultural expression related to fish and wildlife.

For more information about those agreements, visit ODFW’s Tribal Relations page.