CTUR youth advocate for salmon in Washington

Junior, Senior Youth Councils visit, learn, advocate, explore nation’s capital

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Youth Councils for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation traveled to the nation’s capital in midApril.

Over the course of six days, the CTUIR youth attended 13 meetings with elected officials, federal agencies, and NGO (non-governmental agency) partners.

Attending from the CTUIR Junior Youth Leadership Council were Garian McDonald, Sunhawk Thomas, Weptas Brockie, Hiyuum Nowland, Kymani Van Pelt, Brees Vanpelt, Abraham Shippentower-Lara, Penelope Gavin-Harvey, Sydney Carey, Dymond Say, Addison Carey, Meadow Morris, The Senior Youth Council included Diamond Greene and Meadow Morris.

CTUIR Youth Council mentors were Keyen Singer and Lindsey Pasena-Littlesky.

The group was led by the CTUIR Department of Children and Family Services Director and Youth Council Advisor Julie Taylor with chaperones Michelle Pasena, Cara Greene, and Wynema Thurman.

Accompanying the group were Youth Salmon Protectors Lily Wilson, Scout Alford, and Maanit Goel. Youth Salmon Protectors is a program of the Idaho Conservation League working to build a coalition of young people across the Northwest dedicated to honoring tribal treaties, breaching the four Lower Snake River dams, and saving wild salmon and steelhead.

The CTUIR Youth Leadership Council’s opportunity to go to D.C was facilitated by Mitch Cutter, a Salmon & Steelhead Associate from the Idaho Conservation League, and Abbie Abramovich, the Salmon Campaign Grassroots Coordinator from the Idaho Conservation League.

“We watched the kids’ confidence grow from quietly reading a few sentences off a sheet of paper to sharing personal stories of loss and hope for their Tribe and the salmon,” said chaperone Michelle Pasena. “The CTUIR leaders eloquently articulated how the decline in salmon has limited or erased many of our practices and traditions and how many in their community have turned toward unhealthy avenues (gambling, drugs, alcohol, etc.) to fill this void. These kids were able to connect the dots for elected officials in a way that invited them to be a part of the solution and to act urgently. In many of these meetings, it was hard to find a dry eye in the room.”

On the opening day, Monday, April 17, the Youth Council members prayed in front of the capital for a productive, educational, and strong week ahead with a ceremony led by Hiyuum Nowland , Weptas Brockie, Diamond Greene, Garian McDonald, Sunhawk Thomas, and Keyen Singer. The group sang two round-dance songs with other members participating with singing and dancing. Following that ceremony, the youth explored the National Museum of American Indian. Afterward, youth met with Trout Unlimited President Chris Wood and Political Affairs Vice President Lindsay Slater. The group learned about the damage dams do to salmon, steelhead, and other river life. Youth were also informed how

Trout Unlimited plans to replace the energy of hydro powered emissions (dams) with renewable solar, wind, and battery energy.

The next day, Tuesday, April 18, the young people representing the CTUIR split up to take advantage of numerous opportunities. Mentor Keyen Singer took half of the youth group and met with U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington. Led by mentor Lindsey Pasena-Littlesky, the other half of the group met with U.S. Senator Patty Murray, D-Washington, and U.S. Representative Kim Schrier, D-Washington, as well as Department of Interior officials, including Director of Intergovernmental and External Affairs Carter Brown, senior Counselor to the Secretary, Lynn Trujillo.

Legislators spoke to the youth about Tribal consultation, communication and connections to Tribal government, and honoring trust responsibilities. The national leaders recognized the youths’ courage, strength, and their voices taking action. After nearly 10 miles of walking the youth rested their feet at a Major League Baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Baltimore Orioles.

Another amazing day, Wednesday, April 19, with a meeting with U.S. Representative Mike Simpson, R-Idaho. The youth were able to ask questions about Simpson’s plan, which states that breaching the lower river snake dams is possible. Following this meeting, the youth met with the Senate Indian Affairs Committee Staff – Ms. Robyn Colosimo (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), and Dr. Zach Penney and Lauren Gibson from (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administation Fisheries Program). CTUIR member Jesse “Buck” Jones, who was in Washington to discuss the Native American Farm Bill, joined the group in a couple of meetings to witness the discussions with the legislators.

On Thursday, April 20, the Youth Council met with U.S. Congressman Ron Wyden and Congresswoman Andrea Salinas, both from Oregon, and Congressman Derek Kilmer, fromWashington, later they met with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon.

After an afternoon of meetings, the youth council performed a round dance at the Smithsonian National

- Chaperone Michelle Pasena

Members of the CTUIR Youth Councils posed with the Department of Interior officials in Washignton,D.C. April 18.

From left to right, Meadow Morris, Penelope Gavin, Luis Vasquez, Kymani Van Pelt, mentor Lindsey Pasena-Little Sky, Brees Van Pelt, Waptis Brockie, Garian McDonald, unidentified, Lynn Trujillo (Senior Counselor to the DOI Secretary), Julie Taylor, Shantha Ready Alonso (Director of Intergovernmental and External Affairs), Carter Brown (Associate Solicitor for Water Resources), and Abraham Shippentower. The youngsters were in Washington, D.C. April 17-21.