LAKEPORT — The fifth monthly meeting of tribal leaders representing six Lake County tribes saw further discourse about how to collectively tackle concerns the tribes share.
One topic of interest was Native American involvement in the issue of water rights.
County supervisors Anthony Farrington and Ed Robey were on hand to speak to negotiations between the county and the Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, which currently has the legal right to use 314,000 acre feet of Lake County”s namesake lake.
Farrington said he supported the tribes” involvement in current negotiations, which over several years have been conducted in informal two-by-two meetings with the district and both sides” water rights lawyers. “Being divided against Yolo Flood is not going to be in anybody”s interest,” said Farrington.
Robinson Rancheria Tribal Chair Tracey Avila said the tribes were not notified of the county”s actions. “Any issue with water affects all of the tribes in Lake County,” she said, adding, “you need to tell us what you”re considering.”
Farrington noted a lack of tribal input at a recent county Board of Supervisors meeting where an MOU with the district was discussed, and ultimately acknowledged a need for better communication.
He noted that there was a lot tribes can do right now to exercise water rights. The council members convened at the end of the meeting to a closed session to talk about water rights issues.
Another issue of common concern was around Native American youth. Big Valley Rancheria Tribal Chair Valentino Jack noted that summer programs were planned to keep youth out of trouble.
More concerning was when Connie Reitman-Solas of the Inter Tribal Council of California brought up the county”s non-compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, saying it was “amazing that the Board of Supervisors knows nothing about it.” She and ICWA Director Cynthia Jefferson encouraged county officials in attendance which included District Attorney Jon Hopkins to research ICWA. Supervisor Ed Robey said he could set up a meeting with county Social Services Director Carol Huchingson.
Olin Jones of the Department of Justice talked about how to set up tribal law enforcement, and several leaders discussed the possibility of tribal court to complement it, or the alternative of relying on the county and state courts.
Toward the end David Rosas of California Human Development talked about the Youth Build Program, aimed at young men between the ages of 16 and 24. The program provides a combination of credentialed teaching aimed at encouraging youth to complete high school or obtain a GED with learning construction skills.
Linda Hedstrom, housing director at Big Valley Rancheria, encouraged tribal leaders to apply for funding for this program on their own sites. She said she”s drafted a letter for Big Valley, and noted that the deadline is July 3.
To obtain information, contact Deputy CEO of CHDC Chris Paige by mail at 3315 Airway Dr., Santa Rosa, CA 95403, by phone at 521-4726, or via e-mail at chris.paige@chdcorp.org.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
