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Oregon’s senators on Tuesday asked Douglas County and the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians to work together to resolve the “impasse” over the tribal land transfer issue.
Sens. Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden signed a joint letter sent to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners asking the county and the tribe to “find a constructive and mutually beneficial resolution of the current impasse.” An identical letter was sent to Sue Shaffer, the tribal chairwoman.
Douglas County Commissioner Dan Van Slyke said he was encouraged by the entry of the senators and their desire to have the situation worked out. He said he hopes their involvement will enhance discussions already taking place between the county and the tribe.
“It’s encouraging to see that these two senators have asked us to work on this,” Van Slyke said. “It’s important for us to put our heads together and solve this impasse.”
Wayne Shammel, the tribal attorney, said he was also happy to see the senators’ entry. It is hopeful their involvement will help the situation, he said.
“I’m pleased about the letter,” Shammel said. “I think they want to see the whole thing go away.”
In the one-page letter, Smith and Wyden said they had enjoyed “an excellent working relationship” with both the county and the tribe. The senators said they had been partners in many projects that had benefited local communities and the state as a whole.
Smith and Wyden said they had followed with interest recent discussions on transfers of land from the Cow Creeks into tribal trust. The transfers turn over ownership to the federal government, taking the land off property tax rolls.
The senators noted that the transfers are allowed under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. That law authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to hold lands in trust for tribes in order to “secure Indian lands for economic development, housing and related purposes.”
The law also allows state and local governments the opportunity to comment on land transfers to the Secretary of the Interior and to the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.
“The issues associated with federal Indian law are complex and not without disagreement over their implementation,” the letter said. “Oregonians, however, are renowned for finding innovative ways of resolving such contentious issues.
“Similarly, the relationship between Douglas County and the Cow Creek has, for many years, served as a model for cooperation and communication. It is our sincere hope that the tribe and the county can find a constructive and mutually beneficial resolution of the current impasse.”
Commissioner Marilyn Kittelman declined to comment on the senators’ letter this morning. Commissioner Doug Robertson could not be reached.
Over the past few years, the Cow Creeks have moved more than 4,000 acres of land into trust.
Before Kittelman entered office in January 2005, the Board of Commissioners expressed some concern about the land transfers but did not oppose them.
After Kittelman joined the Board of Commissioners, she and Van Slyke railed against the transfers, saying they were depriving other taxing districts of revenue they had previously received through property taxes. They asked the BIA to take that impact into consideration when deciding whether to approve the transfers into trust.
Previously, Van Slyke said he wanted to see the tribe talk with the taxing districts that stood to lose revenue when land was taken into trust and see if that would cause a hardship. That, he said, would resolve his concerns about moving property into trust.
Kittelman also asked the Board of Commissioners to place an advisory measure on the Nov. 7 ballot asking whether county residents feel there should be a cap on the amount of land the Cow Creeks can take into tribal trust.
Critics have said the vote is meaningless as Indian law is a federal issue rather than a local one.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
Sens. Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden signed a joint letter sent to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners asking the county and the tribe to “find a constructive and mutually beneficial resolution of the current impasse.” An identical letter was sent to Sue Shaffer, the tribal chairwoman.
Douglas County Commissioner Dan Van Slyke said he was encouraged by the entry of the senators and their desire to have the situation worked out. He said he hopes their involvement will enhance discussions already taking place between the county and the tribe.
“It’s encouraging to see that these two senators have asked us to work on this,” Van Slyke said. “It’s important for us to put our heads together and solve this impasse.”
Wayne Shammel, the tribal attorney, said he was also happy to see the senators’ entry. It is hopeful their involvement will help the situation, he said.
“I’m pleased about the letter,” Shammel said. “I think they want to see the whole thing go away.”
In the one-page letter, Smith and Wyden said they had enjoyed “an excellent working relationship” with both the county and the tribe. The senators said they had been partners in many projects that had benefited local communities and the state as a whole.
Smith and Wyden said they had followed with interest recent discussions on transfers of land from the Cow Creeks into tribal trust. The transfers turn over ownership to the federal government, taking the land off property tax rolls.
The senators noted that the transfers are allowed under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. That law authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to hold lands in trust for tribes in order to “secure Indian lands for economic development, housing and related purposes.”
The law also allows state and local governments the opportunity to comment on land transfers to the Secretary of the Interior and to the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.
“The issues associated with federal Indian law are complex and not without disagreement over their implementation,” the letter said. “Oregonians, however, are renowned for finding innovative ways of resolving such contentious issues.
“Similarly, the relationship between Douglas County and the Cow Creek has, for many years, served as a model for cooperation and communication. It is our sincere hope that the tribe and the county can find a constructive and mutually beneficial resolution of the current impasse.”
Commissioner Marilyn Kittelman declined to comment on the senators’ letter this morning. Commissioner Doug Robertson could not be reached.
Over the past few years, the Cow Creeks have moved more than 4,000 acres of land into trust.
Before Kittelman entered office in January 2005, the Board of Commissioners expressed some concern about the land transfers but did not oppose them.
After Kittelman joined the Board of Commissioners, she and Van Slyke railed against the transfers, saying they were depriving other taxing districts of revenue they had previously received through property taxes. They asked the BIA to take that impact into consideration when deciding whether to approve the transfers into trust.
Previously, Van Slyke said he wanted to see the tribe talk with the taxing districts that stood to lose revenue when land was taken into trust and see if that would cause a hardship. That, he said, would resolve his concerns about moving property into trust.
Kittelman also asked the Board of Commissioners to place an advisory measure on the Nov. 7 ballot asking whether county residents feel there should be a cap on the amount of land the Cow Creeks can take into tribal trust.
Critics have said the vote is meaningless as Indian law is a federal issue rather than a local one.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
