Hi friend,
Last week's SCOTUS ruling on the Castro-Huerta v. Oklahoma case sent shockwaves through Indian Country. This decision came on the heels of SCOTUS overturning Roe v. Wade, as well as limiting the EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gasses.
The ruling, which goes against prior precedent, allows states to have jurisdiction where they previously had none: over crimes perpetrated towards Natives by non-Natives on tribal lands.
In his dissent, Justice Gorsuch commented: "Where this Court once stood firm, today it wilts. After the Cherokee’s exile to what became Oklahoma, the federal government promised the Tribe that it would remain forever free from interference by state authorities. Only the Tribe or the federal government could punish crimes by or against tribal members on tribal lands. At various points in its history, Oklahoma has chafed at this limitation….Where our predecessors refused to participate in one State’s unlawful power grab at the expense of the Cherokee, today’s Court accedes to another’s" (emphasis added).
Oklahoma is ground zero for the immediate effects of this ruling, but it will have implications for tribes and state-tribal relations across the entire country. We don't yet know the impact it will have here in Oregon. Time will tell if the state of Oregon will choose to exercise its new-found (but unjust) ability to prosecute crimes on tribal land. One thing is clear, however: the ruling directly infringes on all tribes' inherent sovereignty.
COLT supports efforts to protect tribal sovereignty and treaty rights. We urge the conservation community to be informed about tribal issues, to act in good faith as allies to combat injustices, and to prioritize partnerships with tribes in order to strengthen tribal sovereignty and capacity.
You can read the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the Native American Rights Fund's (NARF) joint statement in response to the ruling here. For more information about the ruling and its implications, you can read High Country News' interview with four preeminent scholars of Indian law here.
—Anna-Liza Victory, Oregon Land Justice Project Manager
Banner image courtesy of Trust for Public Lands.
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Thank you for an amazing NW Land Camp!
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Thank you to everyone who joined us for NW Land Camp last week! It was an amazing week of learning, expanding our understanding of conservation, harnessing creativity, sharing passions, and strengthening networks. We're still basking in the joy of seeing you all in person and we miss you already!
Thanks to the 250+ attendees from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and beyond, as well as the more than 70 presenters, two amazing keynotes, and countless volunteers, sponsors, and partners who made Land Camp possible—including our co-organizers at Washington Association of Land Trusts and our fearless Camp Director Eric Steen. We couldn't do this without you.
Looking forward to 2024, and hope to see you before then!
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NEW RESOURCE
Wildland-Urban Interface and Wildfire Risk Map
The Oregon Wildfire Risk Explorer is now live! This tool is designed to identify the wildland urban interface and wildfire risk at the property ownership level. It shows a comprehensive view of wildfire risk in Oregon, local fire history, and provides resources for homeowners, communities, and professionals to prevent and mitigate wildlife.
The Oregon Wildfire Risk Explorer is a partnership among Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon State University Institute for Natural Resources, OSU Libraries and Press, the US Forest Service, and a wide variety of stakeholders throughout Oregon.
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News & Resources
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Members in the News
Conservation News
NW News
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Have a news item to share?
Send Kelsey an email!
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Events & Webinars
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Pease refer to individual organizations for updates on the status of events
🖥 = Virtual event
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Upcoming Grants & Funding Deadlines
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Please check with each funding entity for the most up-to-date information
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Upcoming Funding Info Session
NOAA Grants Info Session
July 7 at noon PT
Oregon Coastal Management Program and Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development will be hosting an info session about NOAA's upcoming grants: NERRS Habitat Protection and Restoration Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Competition and Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Habitat Protection and Restoration Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This will include a quick overview of the program and Q&A. Join via Zoom.
Land Trust Alliance Oregon Grant Info Session
July 14 at 2 p.m. PT
The Land Trust Alliance (LTA) is excited to launch a special grant cycle for land trusts working in Oregon that considers equity at all stages of design. Approximately $150,000 will be available for land trusts implementing diversity, equity, inclusion, and community-centered conservation projects, with a primary focus on partnerships with BIPOC-led organizations. The RFP materials will be released this Friday, July 8.
Please join LTA next Thursday, July 14 at 2 p.m. for an information session to learn more about the grant opportunity. Register via Zoom.
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Conservation Jobs
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- OWEB is hiring a limited duration Water Acquisition Coordinator (Salem, OR) Applications due July 10
- Great Peninsula Conservancy is hiring three AmeriCorps VISTAS—Stewardship, Development, and Education (Bremerton, WA) Applications due July 22
- Deschutes Land Trust is hiring a Development Associate (Bend, OR) Applications due July 31
- The Roundhouse Foundation is hiring for two Grant Program Directors (Remote-Oregon) Applications due August 1
- Deschutes Land Trust is hiring a Development Director (Bend, OR) Open until filled
- Southern Oregon Land Conservancy is hiring a Donor Services Associate (Ashland, OR) Open until filled
- McKenzie River Trust is hiring a Director of Development (Eugene, OR) Open until filled
- Southern Oregon Land Conservancy is hiring a Event and Volunteer Coordinator (Ashland, OR) Open until filled
- Western Rivers Conservancy is hiring a Donor Relations Officer (Portland or San Francisco) Open until filled
- Columbia Land Trust is hiring an Executive Director (Vancouver, WA) Open until filled
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