Purpose:  The Forest Service Region 5 is holding three concurrent public meetings in McClellan (Sacramento area), Arcadia and Redding to explain both the details and intent of the recently proposed Planning Rule, if put into law, the rule will serve as a national blueprint for the way hundreds of individual plans will chart national forest management in the coming years.

Though the forum will not accept public comment, it will present an opportunity for interested stakeholders to ask questions to better address the formal written comments they submit during the public comment period, which closes May 16, 2011.

The proposed planning rule was published in the February 14, 2011, Federal Register, beginning a 90 day public comment period ending May 16, 2011.  To be considered, written comments need to be submitted electronically at  http://www.govcomments.com/ or http://www.regulations.gov, or sent in hard copy to Forest Service Planning DEIS, C/O Bear West Company, 132 E 500 S, Bountiful, UT 84010, or sent via facsimile to 801-397-1605.  Please identify your written comments by including “planning rule” on the cover sheet or the first page.  Comments are available for public inspection at http://contentanalysisgroup.com/fsrd/.

What is it?  The proposed planning rule provides a collaborative and science-based framework for creating land management plans that would support ecological sustainability and contribute to rural job opportunities.  Forest Service land management plans guide management activities on the 155 National Forests and 20 Grasslands in the National Forest System.  This includes the 18 National Forests in California.

Agenda:  Information sharing with Forest Service Staff and Public.  Full text of the proposed rule, instructions to provide comment and more can be found at:  www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule.

Who should attend?  Interested stakeholders and the General Public.

Concurrent Locations:

Each session will take place at the same time in three locations, McClellan (Sacramento area), Angeles National Forest and the Shasta Trinity National Forest.  Please choose a location that is convenient for you. All locations will be linked to the McClellan meeting to see and hear the Washington DC Office Proposed Planning Rule Writing Team’s and Region 5 Leadership presentations and comments.

Regional Public Forum for the Pacific Southwest Region (Region 5), Wildland Fire Training and Conference Center, 3237 Peacekeeper Way, McClellan, CA  95652

Angeles National Forest, Forest Supervisor’s Office, 701 North Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006

Shasta –Trinity National Forest, Forest Supervisor’s Office, 3644 Avtech Parkway, Redding, CA  96002

Additional Region 5 Planning Rule current and historical background information sites:

Pacific Southwest Region 5:   http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/

Pacific Southwest Region 5 Planning Rule:   http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/planningrule/

Should there be a need for reasonable accommodations at these meeting sites, please call:  707-562-8822

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Trudy Tucker, MA

Public Affairs and Communication

USDA Forest Service

Pacific Southwest Region

1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592

707-562-8822

Fax: 707-562-9053

tltucker@fs.fed.us

The creation of a executive level office of California Indian Affairs is a idea shared by many Tribes and Tribal organizations. We, the California Indian Water Commission, support this idea and also support this event that the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians are sponsoring.

Proposal in PDF

———- Forwarded message ———-

Haku from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Chairman Vincent Armenta and the Chumash Tribal Business Committee. We are hosting this webpage to provide information on a Cabinet level Indian Affairs Secretary or Liaison in the Governor’s Office.

FUTURE MEETINGS OF CALIFORNIA TRIBES REGARDING A FUTURE GOVERNOR LEVEL INDIAN AFFAIRS LIAISONS/CABINET SECRETARY POSITION

Thursday, March 24, 2011, Rincon Harah’s Casino, Tribal Hall
9:00 am – 12:00 pm. Located at 1 West Tribal Road, Valley Center,
CA 92082
Wednesday, March 30, 2011, CNIGA quarterly meeting, Sacramento
Future meeting at Blue Lake Rancheria
Future meeting at Table Mountain Rancheria, Friant, CA
Future meeting at Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Santa Ynez, CA
Please contact us if you are available and interested in hosting a meeting.

CURRENT WORKING DOCUMENTS
Proposal to Create an Office of Indian Affairs within the Brown Administration to Improve Tribal and State Relations (March 8, 2011 draft)

DRAFT Duty Statement (March 8, 2011 draft)

California 1977 Executive Order RE: Native American Adviser

More Info…

Please join host Chris Skyhawk for Universal Perspectives this Thursday evening at 7PM on KZYX/ Z 90.7/91.5 FM.

Listen Live on Internet:

http://www.kzyx.org/joomla/

We will cover the Marine Life Protection Act with Guests Adam Wagschal and Atta Stevenson. A guest from the California Dept. of Fish and Game has been invited.

Adam and Atta both served on the Regional Stakeholders Group. In the fall the RSG finalized their work on a single array that attempted to balance the environmental initiatives within the MLPAI statute while giving consideration to existing recreational and commercial uses. All government entities within the North Coast region have endorsed the array and have urged that it be accepted. The Department of Fish and Game is now giving final consideration to the array. In this show we will explore where the process is at and what timetable surrounds the final decision.

Atta P. Stevenson is a Traditional Fishing & Gatherer and member of the California Indian Water Commission. She will address the issue of the rights of First Nations to continue their centuries-old spiritual and harvesting practices.

Adam Wagschal is former director of the Humboldt Bay Harbor District and continues to work as a consultant on water and MLPA issues.

Atta Stevenson is a member of the California Indian Water Commission and she is cited on pages 60-62 of this new book written by Beth Rose Middleton. She is happy to share her insights and perspectives for your reading education and pleasure.

We are encouraging people and organizations to help promote this book as ALL proceeds are distributed to two Tribal land conservation organizations.   You can click on the coupon below to order the book and receive a 20% discount.  Use the code FLR to during checkout to receive your discount.

Thank you in advance for supporting these efforts.

California Indian Water Commission

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Excerpt from introduction:

Trust in the Land

New Directions in Tribal Conservation

Beth Rose Middleton

“The Earth says, God has placed me here. The Earth says that God tells me to take care of the Indians on this earth; the Earth says to the Indians that stop on the Earth, feed them right. . . . God says feed the Indians upon the earth.”

—Cayuse Chief Young Chief, Walla Walla Council of 1855

America has always been Indian land. Historically and culturally, Native Americans have had a strong appreciation for the land and what it offers. After continually struggling to hold on to their land and losing millions of acres, Native Americans still have a strong and ongoing relationship to their homelands. The land holds spiritual value and offers a way of life through fishing, farming, and hunting.

Press Release for Book: Middleton Trust in the Land2 – Press Release

Where to Purchase:

If Salmon Could Speak to Governor Brown: Part five of Salmon Water Now six-part series

What if salmon could speak? We imagine that they would have a lot to say about how difficult their lives have been because of the way humans have treated their environment. The past decade has not been kind to salmon but it is not too late to fix the problems that have pushed wild California salmon to the edge of extinction.

The person who can have the greatest impact on reversing salmon’s march to oblivion is California’s past and current governor, Jerry Brown. The people he hires or appoints to manage and repair California’s water system can make a difference. But they need to follow sound science and reject the hysterical political grandstanding of those who only care about their own greedy ambitions.

The video series can be viewed at: http://www.vimeo.com/19954770

“This bill requires the Secretary of Natural Resources Agency to convene a committee, with membership as prescribed to develop and submit to the Governor and Legislature, before July 1, 2012, a strategic vision for the department and the commission that addresses specified matters relating to state fish and wildlife resource management.”

The California Indian Water Commission is reviewing this legislation to ensure that traditional California Indian cultural values and language will be included in the strategic vision required by the legislation.

We applaud the work that Assemblyman Huffman has undertaken in creating a process to create a strategic vision for fish and wildlife resource management. However, the bill in its current format did not include specific language that is inclusive of California Indian Tribes and people.  Our commission is reviewing the current status of the “Strategic Vision Committee” and determining whether California Indian perspectives are being included in the development of this legislatively mandated strategic vision.

In an effort to address the lack of Tribal inclusion in the language of the bill, we encourage you to submit your perspectives on this issue.  We have included some of our perspectives in the attached Assembly Bill 2376 document.  Please note that our comments are indicated in red type.

Please send us your comments on issues relevant to you or your Tribe that should be included in the strategic vision.  The California Indian Water Commission will assemble this information and make these concerns known to the Secretary of Natural Resources Agency in April 2011.

AB 2376 Fish and Wildlife Attachment (pdf)

Please forward correspondence to:

info@itwatercommission.org
California Indian Water Commission, Inc.
4305 39th Ave.
Sacramento, CA 85824
(707) 671-2820
(916) 601-4069
info@itwatercommission.org
www.itwatercommission.org

Thanks to Don Hankins for sharing the following information!

Video Trailer for Northern Kaanju Ngaachi … Linking cultural and biological diversity…

9 Minute Video:

Website

Projects on Kaanju Ngaachi

We have projects currently underway and proposed for Kaanju homelands and all are contained under the umbrella of our Kaanju Homelands Land and Resource Management Framework.

To help facilitate a number of the projects Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation has developed both informal and formal collaborative arrangements with a range of individuals, businesses and organisations. These include: Nick Smith from Nelumbo Botaniks (Ethnobotanist), Stephen McCann from Gudjuk Consultancy (Facilitating Land Management & Training Projects), OzTours Safaris, Wolverton Pastoral Station, researchers from the Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre at the University of South Australia, and The Wilderness Society.

Chuulangun’s current Projects include:

Kaanju Ngaachi Wenlock and Pascoe Rivers Indigenous Protected Area

Chuulangun Rangers Program

Development of Fire Management and Carbon Abatement Strategy

Northern Kaanju Fauna Study

Kaanju Medicinal Plant Products Project

Kaanju Weed Management Project

Linking Cultural & Biological Diversity

Employment, Training and Capacity Building

The Tribal Advisory Committee will:

Ø Further develop and implement strategies to address water issues identified by Tribes in Update 2009.

Ø Coordinate the inclusion of Tribal perspectives, concerns and strategies on resource stewardship in California Water Plan Update 2013.

Please Note:

o Limited time is available for public comment.

o Only Tribal Advisory Committee Members are eligible for travel reimbursements. If you have not
received notice that you are on the Tribal Advisory Committee, please contact Stephanie Lucero (contact info below)

Please RSVP to lucero.stephanie@gmail.com by February 17, 2011

Location: Training Rooms B and C
East-End Complex Building (Department of Public Health)
1500 Capitol Avenue
Sacramento, Ca. 95814-5006

Contact: Stephanie Lucero
Tribal Facilitator, CA Water Plan Update 2013
Phone: 916*505*0177
Email: lucero.stephanie@gmail.com

If you need reasonable accommodations due to a disability,
please contact Kari Ortega 916-653-8036, TDD 916-653-6934

Additional Information:
A Meeting materials and additional information will be posted at:
www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/materials/index.cfm?subject=feb2511

For more information on Tribal Engagement in California Water Plan Update 2013 go to:
www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/tribal2/engagement/index.cfm

Tentative Dates for Future Tribal AC Meetings*:
May 5, 2011 | July 28, 2011 | October 26-27, 2011 |
* Locations to be announced
Please contact lucero.stephanie@gmail.com if you are interested in hosting a Tribal AC Meeting in May or June of 2011 or 2012.

Stephanie Lucero, JD, LL.M.
CWP Update 2013 Tribal Facilitator
(916) 505-0177 Direct Line/Cell phone
Lucero.stephanie@gmail.com

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DON’T FORGET, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 IS THE FIRST TRIBAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING.

The Kashia Pomo can continue to use Stewarts Point on the Sonoma County coast for tribal ceremonies and food gathering, as they have for 12,000 years, even though the spot is now surrounded by a new state marine preserve.

By Matt Weiser

mweiser@sacbee.com

Published: Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

Read more: http://bit.ly/gGDz3E

Inter-Tribal Water Commission Board

The Whale…

As posted in Snopes.com: http://bit.ly/g1D3nd

A front page story of the San Francisco Chronicle reported on a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth. A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farallon Islands (outside the Golden Gate) and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her. They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her. When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed them gently around as she was thanking them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth said her eyes were following him the whole time, and he will never be the same. May you, and all those you love, be so blessed and fortunate to be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you. And, may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude. I pass this on to you, my friends, in the same spirit.