This bill clarifies the hunting, fishing, trapping, and animal gathering rights of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community, affirming the validity of their 1986 agreement with Oregon while ensuring future agreements do not infringe on the rights of other tribes.
Andrea Salinas
Representative
OR-6
This bill amends the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, affirming the validity of the 1986 Grand Ronde Hunting and Fishing Agreement unless superseded by future agreements between the Grand Ronde Community and Oregon. It clarifies that any new agreements cannot infringe upon the rights of the Grand Ronde Community or other tribes and that the hunting, fishing, trapping, and animal gathering rights of the Grand Ronde Community in future agreements derive solely from the authority of Oregon. The bill also allows for the review of applications to modify the Consent Decree by the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. This amendment does not determine or affect the treaty or sovereign rights of any Indian Tribe.
Grand Ronde Reservation Act Amended: Hunting and Fishing Rights Clarified, 1986 Agreement Stands
Alright, let's break down this amendment to the Grand Ronde Reservation Act. It's all about sorting out hunting, fishing, trapping, and animal gathering rights for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community – and making sure everyone's on the same page.
Sticking with What Works (For Now)
The bill kicks off by saying the 1986 Grand Ronde Hunting and Fishing Agreement is still good to go. Think of it like this: if you had a solid contract with your landlord, this bill says that contract's still valid. But, if the Grand Ronde Community and the State of Oregon want to update things, they can. Any changes, though, need a thumbs-up from both sides – no unilateral decisions allowed (Section 2(b)).
Keeping it Fair for Everyone
Here's where it gets interesting. The bill's careful to say that any new agreements between the Grand Ronde and Oregon can't mess with the rights of other tribes. Imagine you and your neighbor agree on where to put the fence, but that agreement can't suddenly shrink the other neighbor's yard. That's the idea here. It also states that any and all rights in future agreements will come directly from the authority of the State of Oregon (Section 2(d)).
The Fine Print
- "Consent Decree": This refers to a 1987 court judgment. The bill says the U.S. District Court in Oregon can review any requests to change or get rid of this decree, and they'll look at each request fresh, no matter what happened before (Section 2(e)).
- "Indian Tribe": This is a general term, and the bill makes it clear that nothing here changes or defines the rights of any Indian Tribe, including their treaty rights and their rights as sovereign nations (Section 2(f)).
Real-World Ripple Effects
For members of the Grand Ronde Community, this means their current hunting and fishing rights are protected, with a clear path for future adjustments. For other tribes in Oregon, it's a reassurance that their rights won't be accidentally impacted by deals made with the Grand Ronde. And for the State of Oregon, it provides a defined framework for managing these resources in cooperation with the tribes.
For the average Oregonian, this might not change your daily life directly. But it's a solid example of how laws are updated to keep things clear and fair, especially when it comes to long-standing agreements and the rights of different groups. It's like making sure the rules of the game are clear for everyone, even if the game itself has been going on for a while.