Coos Fire Protection Association Career Day
Thursday, September 29th at the Coos County Forest
Are you interested in a career in wildland fire fighting?
Would you like to receive credit through your high school and/or SWOCC for firefighter training?
If so, you’re invited to attend the CFPA Career Day!
Please contact the Tribes’ Director of Forest Management, Colin Beck, at (541) 261-3420 for more information.
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal Event, Tribal News
Notice of Hearing for Water Quality Standards
Notice of Public Hearing
Regarding Adoption of Water Quality Standards for the Waters of the Tribe
The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI) invites the public to review and comment on the Tribe’s draft Water Quality Standards (WQS). WQS are science-based criteria describing the conditions necessary to sustain healthy human and aquatic life within the Tribe’s waters. These WQS apply only to waters within the boundaries of the Tribe’s trust and reservation lands and are not applicable to public or privately owned waters of the State of Oregon.
The CTCLUSI Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public hearing at 6:00 PM Pacific Time on September 21st, 2022, for the purpose of hearing comments and recommendations on the development of Tribal Water Quality Standards.
Topic: CTCLUSI Water Quality Standards Public Hearing
Time: September 21, 2022, 6:00 PM Pacific Time
Click here to Join Zoom Public Hearing
There will be time during the public hearing allocated to commenters who wish to make statements, as well as time for unscheduled comments. Written comments will be accepted until Friday, September 30, 2022. To sign up for a scheduled time to speak at the public hearing, submit written comments, or for questions, please email: WaterQualityStandards@ctclusi.org. Comments will be limited to no more than five minutes and may be less depending upon the number of speakers interested. For more information, visit ctclusi.org.
Once the comment period ends, DNR will review the comments and revise the WQS draft to create a final version. Tribal Members will then have an additional opportunity to comment when Tribal Council considers the final version for adoption into Tribal Code. The CTCLUSI DNR is conducting this hearing and accepting public comments pursuant to Tribal Council Resolution 22-084 (June 12, 2022), which directs DNR to initiate a public comment period and submit the final WQS to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for review.
Section 518 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) allows federally recognized tribes to implement and administer water quality programs within tribal land in the same manner as states, provided that the tribe is first determined to be eligible by the EPA. On May 3, 2021, the EPA determined that CTCLUSI is eligible to administer a water quality certification program under CWA Section 401 and develop water quality standards in accordance with CWA Section 303(c). Furthermore, the Clean Water Act states that it is the EPA’s responsibility to review new or revised water quality standards, per CWA Section 303(c)(3). The federal regulations at 40 C.F.R. Part 25 govern the public participation requirements for CTCLUSI to meet before receiving WQS approval.
The CTCLUSI Water Quality Standards were developed using the best available science and existing EPA-approved state and Tribal water quality standards. The document contains an anti-degradation policy and implementation plan, designated use categories, and narrative and numeric water quality criteria.
The anti-degradation policy and implementation plan can be found in sections 10-1-14 and 10-1-15. Together, they are meant to ensure that Tribal water quality is maintained sufficiently to meet the needs of plants, animals, and humans that utilize the Tribe’s waters.
The designated uses of the waters of the Tribe, as defined in sections 10-1-25 and 10-1-26, describe the types of activities the Tribe’s waters are used for. Multiple designated uses often apply to a single area. For instance, Big Creek, which flows through the Tribe’s Talbot Tract, is designated for both Cultural and Ceremonial use as well as use by Resident Fish and Aquatic Life. The table of designated uses and what Tribal waterbodies they apply to can be found at 10-1-27(a).
Finally, the draft contains narrative and numeric water quality criteria. Narrative criteria uses descriptive language describing the proper conditions of the Tribe’s waters and can be found from 10-1-16 to 10-1-23. For example, the narrative criteria in section 10-1-16(a) covering floating solids, oil, and grease reads: “All waters shall be free from visible oils, scum, foam, grease, and other floating materials and suspended substances of a persistent nature resulting from other than natural causes.”
Numeric criteria uses numbers, measures and values to express water quality standards, and can be found in sections 10-1-28 through 10-1-32. For example, the numeric criteria addressing dissolved oxygen for areas designated as shellfish growing and harvesting says “In fresh water and estuarine water, dissolved oxygen may not be less than 8.0 mg/l as an absolute minimum. Where natural conditions of barometric pressure, altitude, and temperature preclude attainment of the 8.0 mg/l, dissolved oxygen may not be less than 90 percent of saturation.”
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal Event, Tribal News
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day(s) with Tribal Police
The Tribal Police Department will once again be participating in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day (NDTBD) held on Saturday, October 29th, 2022 from 10am – 2pm at the governmental offices at 1245 Fulton Avenue in Coos Bay. This event is sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and it provides the supplies to be able to collect unused or expired prescription medications to ensure that they are safely disposed of without falling into the wrong hands or unnecessarily polluting.
In order to comply with COVID restrictions, all of these events will be outside (parking lot) so that participants can just pull up and drop off their items.
After the event (on Saturday), from 2pm – 3pm, Tribal Police Officers will be available to travel within 20 miles of the governmental office to pick up any unused or expired medications from Tribal families or Tribal Elders. If you know of someone who would like to participate, but is unable to make it to any of the events, please have them contact me for scheduling at our office: 541-997-6011.
There will be no identifying information collected, and the program is anonymous. We encourage participants to remove any identifying labels from bottles prior to submission. We will be able to accept vape pens without internal batteries, controlled, non-controlled and over the counter medications with a few exceptions; Intra-venous solutions, injectables, syringes, chemotherapy medications, or medical waste WILL NOT be accepted.
If you have any questions about the program, please let me know. Our goal is to keep medications from being lost, stolen, or misused. If you would like to view information about the program from the DEA, please visit: https://takebackday.dea.gov/ . If you know someone who lives outside of the area, they can also search by zip code to find an event nearby.
In addition to the National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Tribal Police Officers will be at the Eugene outreach office on Thursday, October 27th from 11am – 2pm to accept any medications and also at the Florence outreach office on Friday, October 28th from 11am – 2pm.
Since we began partnering with the DEA in the NDTBD program in 2018, the Tribal Police Department has helped to keep over 282 pounds of medications from being misused or otherwise polluting our landfills and waterways. Anyone is welcome to participate, so feel free to share the information with your friends and family.
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal Event, Tribal News
Hunting, (Trapping) Fishing and Gathering Special Election Coming Soon
September 8, 2022
Dear Tribal Member; Hunting, (Trapping) Fishing & Gathering Special Election Information
You are receiving this information because you are an eligible voter by the Constitution of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. All enrolled members at least 18 years of age are considered eligible to vote in all Elections. The Election Code requires you to also be registered. This office has sent out several attempts to get all eligible members registered so you can participate in the upcoming Special Election.
Tribal Council needs action from the people at this time on a very important matter concerning Hunting, (Trapping) Fishing and Gathering rights for its membership in our ancestral territory in Oregon. A Special Election is going to be held soon, as required by the Constitution seeking approval of the membership prior to any negotiating of any agreements for Hunting, (Trapping) Fishing and Gathering. The ballot will contain a single YES or NO question.
Do you authorize the Tribe to negotiate and enter into agreements with outside entities to establish Tribal regulations for Hunting, Trapping, Fishing and Gathering for CTCLUSI membership? YES or NO
Once this vote passes, a Board will be created to work with entities like Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to establish a Tribal permitting process for its membership similar to the recent MOA with the Coquille Tribe and other Federally Recognized Tribes in Oregon.
We ask anyone interested please attend a zoom only meeting September 22nd at 5:15p.m. for a question and answer session about this topic.
Your participation is vital, no matter where you live in the US. If we don’t have enough participation this will not be a valid election. Please VOTE.
PLEASE REGISTER AND VOTE!
Contact Jeannie McNeil jmcneil@ctclusi.org or call 541-888-9577 for the Election Clerk to be sure you are registered.
Special Election Day: Saturday, October 22, 2022
Polls will be located at the Tribal Hall, Coos Bay, Oregon from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. You may vote in person at the polling place, and register to vote in person if you have not done so.
Ballots will be mailed to every registered voter on October 29, 2022. You must be registered to receive a ballot by mail.
THE SPECIAL ELECTION FOR CTCLUSI HUNTING, (TRAPPING) FISHING & GATHERING
Why This Matters Today?
The Coquille Indian Tribe (a neighboring Tribe in Oregon) recently entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the State of Oregon to recognize Tribal regulation, as opposed to state regulation, of hunting, trapping, fishing, and gathering by the Coquille Tribal Membership. The MOA also establishes a system for cooperative management of fish and wildlife resources by the State and the Coquille Tribe.
The CTCLUSI Tribal Council has had some preliminary discussions with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), and ODFW has expressed interest in entering into a similar MOA with CTCLUSI. Such a MOA would provide tremendous benefit to the Tribal Membership’s ability to exercise their hunting, fishing, and gathering rights. It would also allow CTCLUSI to cooperatively manage fish and wildlife resources within the Tribes’ service area.
The following provides some highlights of the benefits that a Memorandum of Agreement between CTCLUSI and ODFW could provide for the Tribal Membership:
- CTCLUSI would issue its own hunting, trapping, fishing, and gathering licenses and tags to its Tribal Members. These licenses and tags would be recognized by State law enforcement.
- Tribal Members could obtain licenses and tags through both ODFW and CTCLUSI. Any tags issued by CTCLUSI would be in addition to any tags issued by ODFW, meaning that Tribal Members would have additional hunting and fishing opportunities compared to those currently offered to the general public by ODFW.
- CTCLUSI would develop its own hunting, trapping, fishing, and gathering regulations. These Tribal regulations would be recognized by State law enforcement, meaning that Tribal Members would be protected in the exercise of their hunting, trapping, fishing and gathering rights.
- CTCLUSI would be responsible for enforcing its own hunting, trapping, fishing and gathering regulations. The State would defer to Tribal enforcement actions.
- The State and CTCLUSI would commit to coordinating on the management of fish and wildlife resources, including the establishment of harvest levels as well as management of habitat.
- The State would also agree to accept cooperative tribal management that would advance ODFW’s own management activities. This would allow CTCLUSI to play a much larger role in the management of fish and wildlife in Oregon than is currently the case.
- The MOU would NOT diminish or modify any of CTLCUSI’s ancestral hunting, trapping, fishing, or gathering rights. Nothing in the MOU would prevent CTCLUSI from pursuing litigation or other actions to protect its ancestral rights at a later date.
- Tribal members out of the area would be eligible to receive tags including those living out of state of Oregon. There would be no fees for out of state permitting.
In order for CTCLUSI to enter into a MOA with ODFW, the Tribal Membership must first authorize the Tribe to negotiate with ODFW on the contents of the MOA. Under the Tribal Constitution, this must be approved by a Special Election. The timeline for negotiating a MOA is short, as the Governor leaves office in January of 2023 and it is uncertain whether Oregon’s next Governor will be as eager to work with CTCLUSI on this issue.
For various reasons, we are asking each eligible enrolled member, be registered and VOTE in the upcoming Special Election, no matter where you reside.
TRIBAL CONSTITUTION / ELECTION INFORMATION
Below are areas of the Constitution that state why this Special Election is necessary. Our Tribal laws require a vote of the membership to grant authority to the Tribe to negotiate and/or enter in to any agreements related to Hunting, Trapping, Fishing and Gathering with any other entity as outlined below.
Article II Hunting, Fishing, and Gathering Rights
Nothing in this constitution shall be construed as restricting the exercise of hunting, fishing or gathering rights of members, to the fullest extent permitted by law. No tribal decision affection such hunting, fishing or gathering rights shall be made except by a full vote of Tribal membership.
Article V –Section 1. General Council
(g) Exercise those powers of fundamental changes in the Tribes jurisdiction, reservation lands, or rights specified in Article VI, Section 3(a) ….below.
The VOTE
Article VI, Section 3. General Council Authority
(a) Before taking any action with regards to the following matters, the tribal council shall obtain the approval of three- fourths (3/4) of the membership in a vote in which at least thirty -five (35) percent of the membership of the general council participates, such vote may be taken by mail.
The language of the Tribal Constitution below identifies what is required for participation and the numbers needed to pass in the upcoming vote of the Special Election.
| Current CTCLUSI Membership 18+ Eligible to Vote | Members Registered to VOTE as of TODAY | Minimum Members Needed to Participate to validate this Special Election | Minimum approval needed for to Pass |
| 915 | 596 | 320 | 240 |
ONLY those members REGISTERED will receive a ballot. Election Registrations are valid for 10 years. Some of our Tribal Members registrations have expired and others have never registered to vote.
Participation
We will NEED to receive the required minimum number of ballots listed on the previous page for the Special Election to be considered valid and counted.
Historically, in Tribal Council Elections participation has not reached these number, however Council Elections do not require this specific participation criteria.
YES or NO – Approve or Fail
In order for the ballot initiative to pass in this type of Special Election it is also required special tabulation. It means three fourths (3/4) of the membership must be in favor and vote yes for this to pass.
All CTCLUSI Members 18+ are needed to participate in the upcoming Special Election
For more information please contact Jeannie McNeil 541-888-9577, jmcneil@ctclusi.org
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal Event, Tribal News
Proposed Code Amendments to Chapter 1-6 and Chapter 7-8
NOTICE OF CODE AMENDMENTS
The following proposed Codes was passed for First Reading by Tribal Council on August 14,2022
TITLE: 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Chapter 1-6 Public Records
TITLE: 7 ENROLLMENT. COMMI ELECTIONS AND REFERUMDUMS
Chapter 7-8 Gaming Facility Operational Review Board
The Tribal Council has determined amendments are needed for Chapter 1-6 Public Records and chapter 7-8 Gaming Facilities Operation Review Board.
Tribal Council hereby approves the amendments to both Codes for first reading and posting for a twenty-eight (28) day period.
DATE OF THE TRIBAL COUNCIL MEE AT WHICH THE PROPOSED CODE IS EXPECTED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR FINAL PASSAGE
October 9,2022
Please visit www.ctclusi.orq for complete draft edits to both Codes for membership to review.
The notice of the proposed amendment/creation of Code/Ordinance shall be published in the Tribal Newsletter and the text will be posted for public comment for twenty-eight (28) days in the Administration Building, Tribal Hall, Outreach Offices, on the Tribes’ website and at Three Rivers Casino (Office of the Gaming Commission). Written comments should be sent to the Tribal Council in care of Jeannie McNeil, CTCLUSI, 1245 Fulton Avenue, Coos Bay OR 97420 or email: imcneil@ctclusi.org.
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal Event, Tribal News
Summer Adventure Photo Share
Did you camp in your backyard, go on a family trip, spend a day at the beach? Show us your summer 2022 adventure photo!
All youth (5 -18 years of age) who submit a photo to be featured in the October edition of the Voice of CLUSI Paper will receive a dry bag for more outdoor adventures!
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal Event, Tribal News
Sign Up Has Ended
Eligible students will receive a $35 gift card for either Amazon or Walmart
Kindergarten through Seniors in High School are able to apply
Please reach out to the Education Department
if your have questions or need assistance.
Eriq Acosta— Education Specialist— eacosta@ctclusi.org 541-888-1318
Hope you all have a great first week back at school and for those already started, we hope your year has started off great!
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal Event, Tribal News
Harvest Shellfish? Take Survey for Chance to Win $50!
Contributed by
Taylor Dodrill, Portland State University and South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
Janet Niessner, Environmental Scientist, CTCLUSI
Do you harvest shellfish recreationally? Are you 18 or older? Please take our 10-minute survey for a chance to win a $50 gift card to a local business.
This survey is a part of a study being done by a Portland State University graduate student in collaboration with the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Department of Culture and Natural Resources, the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The purpose of this study is to understand how shellfish harvesters view their risk of shellfish poisoning caused by harmful algal blooms (HABs), and to understand their preferences for management of fisheries during harmful algal blooms. The results will be used to develop a report that may be published in a scientific journal and to provide guidance to local managers on making coastal communities more resilient to harmful algal blooms.
To learn about HABs and the health risks associated, go to EPA.gov/cyanohabs. For any questions regarding this project and survey please contact Taylor Dodrill at tdodrill@pdx.edu.
All survey answers are anonymous, and the combined results will be made public after all survey data have been analyzed. We plan to use this information to improve safety information provided to shellfish harvesters.
You can find the survey at: https://forms.office.com/g/M3Ja7apBsR
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal Event, Tribal News
CTCLUSI Hazard Mitigation Plan
In response to the increasing risks posed by a number of natural hazards, Tribal Council – in agreement with Planning Staff recommendations – selected the consulting team WSP in Portland to lead the effort in creating an updated Hazard Mitigation Plan for CTCLUSI in late 2019. This process included multiple workshops with Tribal Leadership and Staff, and a thorough analysis of the natural hazard threats the Tribe and its members face. Additionally, the Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies goals and strategies to avoid and reduce negative outcomes from identified threats.
In mid-2022, the Hazard Mitigation Plan was submitted to CTCLUSI Staff and is currently available for public review and comment prior to finalization in August 2022.
Click Here to view the CTCLUSI Hazard Mitigation Plan
Click Here to submit comments
Click Here to view the CTCLUSI Planning Department webpage
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal Event, Tribal News
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Plan
In response to the rapidly evolving economic environment, Tribal Council – in agreement with Planning Staff recommendations – selected the consulting team Blue Stone Strategy Group to lead the effort in creating an updated Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for CTCLUSI in 2021. This process included multiple meetings with Leadership, Staff, and community members; as well as a comprehensive survey of member preferences. These efforts culminated in the CEDS plan that provides a thorough analysis of the Tribe’s Strengths and Weaknesses, the identified Tribal economic goals and strategies; and the associated milestones to evaluate progress.
In mid-2022, the CEDS Plan was submitted to CTCLUSI Staff and is currently available for public review and comment prior to finalization in August 2022.
Click Here to view the CTCLUSI CEDS Plan
Click Here to submit comments
Click Here to view the CTCLUSI Planning Department webpage
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal Event, Tribal News