Group discusses priorities, programs and agreements 

By LEE JUILLERAT   

H&N Regional Editor

October 26, 2010

   Wagner oversees 17 national forests in the Pacific Northwest region that includes Oregon and Washington. A goal of the meeting was to introduce the newly elected Tribal Council to Wagner and other Fremont-Winema leaders.

   Amy Gowan, representing the Fremont-Winema, and Taylor David, the Tribes’ spokeswoman, said the group discussed current relationships, priorities, programs, accomplishments, and the memorandum of agreement between the Tribes and Forest Service.  

   Coordination

   The memorandum, which Gowan said establishes a line of communication, has not been reviewed for five years. It covers such issues as government-to-government coordination at the regional level, coordination between tribal resource departments and forest staff, cultural resources, firewood gathering, camping by tribal members, land exchanges, recreational development, and road management.  

   Tribal leadership

   Among tribal leaders present were chairman Gary Frost, vice chairman Don Gentry and Council members Torina Case, Jeff Mitchell, Albert “Bert” Lawvor, Frank Summers, and Georgene Wright-Nelson. Also attending were tribal employees, including natural resource director Will Hatcher, general manager Kathleen Mitchell, administrative officer Kathy Rich, culture and heritage director Perry Chocktoot and tribal forestry crew manager Randy Henry.