CUJ photoslMIranda Vega Rector
Umatilla National Forest to begin spring prescribed burning ~
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Walkingin the 'Step by Step" awareness event were, from left, Cree Enright, Alice Brooks, CUJ photolMIranda Vega Rector and Nina Watchman.
Community walks to raise awareness MISSION — Family Violence Services, a department within the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), hosted their "Step by Step Together We Can End Sexual Violence" annual walk and luncheon on April 9. Native A m e r ican w o me n are 2.5 times more likely to be sexually assaulted in their lifetime as compared to other women in the United States and at least one of three Indigenous women are raped or otherwise subjected to sexual violence during her lifetime, according to an email sent out by Amanda Hull, Family Violence Service's Advocate. "Community m embers have said 'I'm glad someone brought this up publicly'", said Desiree Coyote, the CTUIR Family Violence Services Coordinator. " It's good fo r t h e c o m m u n i t y , " said Sunshine Fuentes, 16-year-old Nixyaawii High School student. "Most people don't know about consent." All employees of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation were invited to attend as well as all community members. The Umatilla Tribal Police Department, Cay-UmaWa Head Start students and staff, Nixyaawii Community H igh School
students, and staff from the Department of Children and Family Services were amongst those who attended the walk. "We have to educate ourselves all the time," said Leo Stewart, Vice Chairman of the CTUIR Board of Trustees and guest speaker at the luncheon. "It's great to make the community aware that there is a problem. We have staff working with the community to raise awareness but we need to communicate with everyone to be involved, including leadership."
PENDLETON- The Umatilla National Forest is preparing to start prescribed burning to, among other things, reduce hazardous fuels between wild lands and urban areas, reduce slash piles, reduce the risk of large-scale wildfires, and protect wildlife habitat. An estimated 12,000 acres are planned for burning this spring, but that figure could increase if good burn conditions persist. The actual amount of burning accomplished w il l b e d etermined by weather, fuels conditions, and forecasted smoke dispersion. In many areas, prescribed burning is the last of a series of treatments for vegetation management and fuel reduction projects. Burning often follows harvest or other thinning activities that remove some trees while retaining the largest, healthiest trees of the most fire-resistant species, such as ponderosa pine and western larch. S m a l ler trees(ladder fuels) are removed, leaving stands less susceptible to crown f i res. P rescribed burning completes the treatment process by consuming much of the accumulated surface fuel. Prescribed burning is conducted using federal, state and local agency employees and contracted personnel and equipment. Crews, engines, dozers, and helicopters — typical resources used on a prescribed burn — monitor and maintain
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Chief Timothy Addleman, from the Umatilla Tribal Police Department, helps Quincy Sams fix his "flat tire" afterloosing his shoe during the walk.
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the burn within the fire line perimeter. Areas to be burned are often prepared by constructing a fire line around them and using existing roads and trails as fire breaks. Firing or ignition of the area will be accomplished by ground personnel utilizing drip torches and, on larger projects, by a helicopter mounted firing device. Each prescribed burn has an organized command structure including a burn boss, firing boss, and a holding boss that provides and implements management of the burn. P rescribed bu r n in g i s no t w i t h o u t impacts. Managing the smoke produced by prescribed bu rn s i s a s i g n i f i cant challenge and the hardest to forecast in the implementation planning process. Managers work closely with the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Washington Department of Natural Resources in accordance with their smoke management plans that determine when, where, and how much can be burned on a daily basis. Unfavorable weather conditions, especially those leading to an adverse smoke management forecast, are the primary reason a prescribed burn would be postponed. For more information concerning the Umatilla N a t i o nal F o r est Prescribed Burning program, contact Chris Johnson, Deputy Fire Staff Officer /Fuels Program Manager, inPendleton at 541-278-3704.
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Blue Mountain Community College
David Gately Pendleton BMCC Student Business Administration - Hospitality Bt Gaming
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David, 32, is not only in his llrst year at BMCC, but he's also the first person in his family to attend college in many generations. He's hoping his BMCC education will provide him with the skills he needs for a goodpaying job in our region. He is hoping to go into the hotel or casino industry through his studies in b usiness administration in hospitality with a gaming option, and thanks to BMCC, he is well on his way. David is already finding success at BMCChe doubled his writing placement test score before the end of his first term at
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READY TO QUIT TOBACCO? Talk to your provider, pharmacist or call Behavioral Health 541.278.7528
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May 2015
Confederated Umatilla Journal
37