Washington DC – Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced legislation to restore traditional hunting and fishing rights for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. The House version of the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05). The Senate version is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR).
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is the only federally recognized tribe in the country that is bound by a consent decree, which limits where, when, and how much tribal members are allowed to hunt and fish on their traditional lands. If passed, this legislation would allow the Tribe to return to federal court to request the termination or modification of their current consent decree with the State of Oregon.
“For decades, members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde have been unable to freely hunt and fish on their ancestral lands – all because of an unfair consent decree they were forced to sign,” dijo el representante Salinas. “My legislation would rectify this injustice by allowing the Tribe to renegotiate and come to a new agreement. I’m grateful for the partnership of the Grand Ronde Tribal Council and my Oregon colleagues as we continue to right the wrongs of the past.”
“The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde were forced to give up their traditional ability to hunt, fish, and gather on Tribal land as the price of restoring their homelands. This historic injustice has stood for far too long,” dijo el senador Merkley. “Our legislation is critical to remove federal restrictions on the Grand Ronde and allow them to fully engage in these traditional activities once more.”
“For nearly 40 years, the consent decree has placed unfair and unjust conditions on the Grand Ronde Tribes’ sovereignty. At this point the Grand Ronde Tribe is the only Tribe in the national with these restrictions. The introduction of this legislation brings this issue to light and presents us with the first step in righting this historic wrong,” said Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy. “We’re grateful to Congresswoman Salinas and our delegation for bringing this issue forward.”
“The historic injustices inflicted by the federal government on the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde are long overdue for reversal and repair,” dijo el senador Wyden. “This bill would help to achieve those objectives by restoring their abilities to hunt, fish and gather food on their ancestral lands without government overreach and intervention. I will keep partnering with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the other eight federally recognized tribes in Oregon for justice that protects Tribal sovereignty.”
“The consent decree restricting the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is a shameful remnant of past U.S. government efforts to undermine Tribal sovereignty,” dijo el representante Bonamici. “I’m grateful to join my Oregon colleagues on this effort to correct this historic injustice and restore the rights of Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde members to freely hunt, fish, and gather food on their ancestral lands.”
“The Grand Ronde Tribe deserves to regain their sovereign right to hunt, fish and gather on their ancestral lands,” dijo el representante Hoyle. “It is something they never should have been forced to give up in the first place, and I believe Congress has a responsibility to restore these rights to them. I was proud to pass similar legislation in 2023 for the Siletz Tribe, and I look forward to supporting this important effort for the Grand Ronde Tribe.”
“The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde should have never been forced to cede their right to hunt, fish, and gather on tribal lands in the first place,” said Rep. Bynum. “This legislation will allow the tribes to renegotiate existing restricting agreements, righting a historic wrong and making life better for Oregon Tribal members.”
When Congress passed the Western Oregon Termination Act in 1954, Grand Ronde and other Oregon tribal nations were stripped of their land and federal status. When their federal status was restored in 1985, the Tribe was forced to sign a consent decree limiting their hunting and fishing abilities on their own land.
In December 2023, Rep. Salinas’ and Sen. Merkley’s legislation restoring Grand Ronde’s right to pursue land claims and compensation was signed into law. The Enmienda a la Ley de Reservas Grand Ronde was the first piece of legislation introduced by Rep. Salinas as a Member of Congress, as well as her first bill to become law.
To read the full text of this legislation, click aquí.
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