Tribes have a new chairman

New Klamath Tribes Chairman Joe Kirk wants to use his three-year term to improve

services and build relationships within and outside the tribal community.

Education, health, the environment among his priorities

By TY BEAVER

H&N Staff Writer

June 23, 2007

   As Joe Kirk and his wife got ready to move back to the Klamath Basin after several years away, he knew this was the year he wanted to help the Klamath Tribes and work with those in its community. 

   So Kirk campaigned for the head spot – Tribal chairman – and won the election. 

   “I felt like I was serious about it,” he said. “It was something I need to do.” 

   Kirk officially took office in late May. He wants to use his three year term to strengthen the Tribes by improving services and building relationships both within and outside the tribal community. 

   Basin’s watershed 

   Resolving issues within the Klamath Basin watershed are on Kirk’s list of priorities. The Tribes have traditional and economical ties to the rivers and streams that feed into Upper Klamath Lake and the Klamath River , especially through the endangered suckers that live within the system. 

   Better management and care of the watershed will allow the environment to balance itself and allow the tribal members to practice fishing and other traditions lost in past years, Kirk said, adding that restoring those traditions also would aid in promoting the Tribes’ culture and heritage. 

   Kirk sa id he also wants to improve health care access and services to all members of the Tribes. Education, he added, is a key. He has seen friends and family members suffer with diabetes and preventable health problems. 

   Education 

   He also wants to promote higher education and vocational opportunities to members. 

   Kirk said he had the opportunity to further his education, which allowed him to better understand himself and what he wanted to do in life. Other tribal members should have the same options. 

   His list of priorities isn’t in order of importance, he said. 

   No one issue, from health care to education to tradition, is more important than the other, and he said he plans to work on all of them during his term.

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