Tag Archives: Seattle Times

Colville tribe: hunting wolves to protect deer, elk, chairman says

01/15/2013 Nativegrl77

by Lynda V. Mapes

December 7,2012

After eight months of deliberation, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation decided earlier this month to open a hunt on wolves living within the boundaries of its reservation, John Sirois, chairman of the Colville Business Council said in a telephone interview Friday.

The tribe made the decision after surveying its membership, and discerning through the work of its biologists that the wolves on its reservation are denting the local population of deer and elk, which tribal members hunt for subsistence. The tribe elected to allow a wolf hunt in order protect the tribe’s food supply, Sirois said.

“Wolves are starting to have an impact,” Sirois said. “We decided it was much better to manage the population so we can keep the numbers down a little bit. We would rather do that than what the state Fish and Wildlife did and take a whole pack. We didn’t want a helicopter coming through.”

Sirois was referring to the decision by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife in September to kill an entire pack of wolves in the northeastern part of the state, called the Wedge pack, after a rancher complained of cattle killed by the pack.

One of the members of Wedge Pack. All of the wolves in the pack were killed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Photo, courtesy Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Killing the seven members of the pack with a marksman shooting from a helicopter was highly controversial. Some, including UW wildlife biologist John Marzluff, say the state didn’t need to kill the Wedge pack. See his op ed in the Seattle Times.

The tribe’s decision to allow a hunt has also been hot.

“Oh man, it is blowing up,” Sirios said. “I have a lot of hateful messages from people, it’s ‘Why are you killing your brother.’ The decision wasn’t made easily, there was a lot of debate. But in terms of feeding our people, this is one we had to make.”

Sirois said he doubts many wolves will be taken. “It is not as easy as people think. We have authorized three areas, with threes wolves for each one. If they get one per zone, they will be lucky.”

No wolves have been taken yet, Sirois said.

The Colville’s reservation is a sprawling expanse of largely open country, in northcentral Washington. The tribe successfully trapped and collared several wolves last summer, Sirois said, part of its work to monitor the wolves within the tribe’s borders. At least two packs are believed to roam the rez. Collared animals may not be legally hunted.

Hunting with tribal permits on the Colville reservation is only open to tribal members.

Wolves are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act west of SR 97, but east of it, on the tribe’s reservation, they are not. The tribe also has authority to set its own hunting regulations for tribal members on its lands. The season runs until the end of February.

Sirois said the wolf is an important animal to the tribe culturally. “It is definitely one of the animals we hold sacred, and that is one of the major internal discussions we had. But we also weighed the fact that a lot of people are utilizing the deer and elk as subsistence foods. In order to have some balance, it was something we had to do.”

For more information on wolves in Washington, see the state WDFW website. and the website of Conservation Northwest.

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Tell Republican Rob McKenna to STOP the GOP attack on education funding!

03/16/2012 Nativegrl77

Fourteen days ago, Olympia Republicans fought to pass a state budget that slashed millions from education funding and forced our already cash-strapped state into a special session that is costing about $20,000 per day.

After weeks of public outcry and media scrutiny, today those same Republicans were embarrassed into reversing course by restoring funding to education. Rob McKenna‘s response today continued to suggest his support for the Republican-passed budget that cut millions from our schools and colleges, despite campaigning on the need to increase funding for education.

Will you share this video with your friends so they can see for themselves that Rob McKenna isn’t who he says he is when it comes to standing up for our schools?

McKenna can’t have it both ways. That’s why we’ve launched a new web video that lays out McKenna’s duplicity and calls into question his commitment to his own campaign rhetoric.

Watch the video, and then share it with your friends so they can see that Republican Rob McKenna isn’t who he says he is!

McKenna has been on the record constantly, promising billions for education since he launched his campaign — it’s a matter of public record:

“We need to adequately fund our education system, and we need to do it now.” – 11/8/11, announcing his “New Direction” plan“…Rob McKenna kicked off his 2012 campaign for governor Tuesday, doubling down on pledges…plowing billions more into public schools and colleges.” – Seattle Times, 11/8/11“We need to invest more in our K-12 system. That means more of the state budget needs to be dedicated to our public schools.” – 1/10/12, at the IMPACT WA manufacturing summit

He talks a good game. But when Republicans passed a budget that slashed $74 million dollars from our already underfunded schools and colleges, PubliCola reported that McKenna praised the Republican budget.

Voters want to know where McKenna stands: with Olympia Republicans who wanted to slash education funding, or with his own campaign rhetoric that calls for more education spending?

Watch our new web video, and then share it with your friends so they can see that Republican Rob McKenna isn’t who he says he is!

Thank you for standing up for Washington’s schools and letting Republican Rob McKenna know talking a good game only matters if you’re willing to fight when it’s tough — not just when it’s a convenient campaign talking point.

Sincerely,

Joby Shimomura
Campaign Manager
Jay Inslee for Washington

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A Kitchen Table Conversation with those Struggling to Find Work

01/26/2012 Nativegrl77

This month, while the Senate was in recess, I spent time traveling around the state listening to constituents talk about what matters most to them. Two weeks ago, I had the great honor of being hosted at the homes of two local families, one in Seattle and one in Marysville, for an opportunity to talk one on one with constituents around their kitchen table about the issues facing the unemployed. I heard from constituents like Natalie Simmons, a community college professor who talked about how critical unemployment insurance is for students in her job re-training program. Ms. Simmons has seen good students drop out of these training programs when their benefits ran out. I also heard from a constituent who relies on her unemployment insurance to pay for necessary health care treatment. It is stories like these that I take back to Washington, D.C. with me as I continue to fight to provide critical supports for middle class families through the end of the year. I will continue to stress the need to make sure unemployment benefits are continued for workers fighting to get back on the job in this tough economy.

“Jobless tell Murray of struggles getting by” – The Seattle Times

“Sen. Murray meets in Marysville with families to discuss aid for unemployed”
– The Seattle Times

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Fairchild First in Spokane

Two weeks ago, I joined Senator Cantwell, members of the Spokane community, and elected officials at Greater Spokane Incorporated to kickoff “ Fairchild First”, a statewide initiative to ensure that Fairchild Air Force Base becomes an early home to the next generation of aerial refueling tankers. I spoke about the important work that’s being done at Fairchild – both for the local community and for our nation’s national security. Fairchild has so much to offer the new fleet, and I look forward to continuing to engage the military throughout this process to ensure that Fairchild is considered.

“Campaign begins to land new tankers at Fairchild” – The Spokesman Review

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Roundtable with Local Superintendents in Yakima, Early Learning Programs in Bremerton

I traveled to Yakima to tour Adams Elementary School and host a roundtable discussion with superintendents and other education stakeholders on local challenges and to discuss my ongoing efforts to reform and reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to benefit schools throughout Washington state and nationwide. I will use the stories and suggestions I heard at Adams Elementary to bring local concerns to Washington, D.C, as I continue to work to reform the No Child Left Behind Act.

“Senator Patty Murray talks education reform with educators” – KAPP TV

“Sen. Murray in Yakima to talk with educators” – KNDO

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During the recess, I also traveled to Bremerton for a tour of Navel Avenue Early Learning Center, to host a second roundtable with educators, education advocates, and parents to highlight our state’s strong early learning programs and the recent Race to the Top grant award, which I fought for on behalf of early learning in the ESEA reauthorization.

“Senator Patty Murray talks education reform with educators” – KAPP TV

“Sen. Murray in Yakima to talk with educators” – KNDO

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Hearing from Veterans in Yakima

While I was in Yakima, I also had the opportunity to host a roundtable discussion with local veterans. It was a great chance to hear firsthand stories and concerns from our nation’s heroes. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I will continue to work on behalf of these brave men and women, to make sure they are getting the care they deserve after serving our country.

“U.S. Sen. Patty Murray visits Yakima veterans, educators” – Yakima Herald

“Senator Patty Murray listens to veterans’ concerns” – KAPP TV

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Make marriage equality in Washington a reality!

11/14/2011 Nativegrl77

With the momentum for marriage equality around the country on our side and recent polling showing growing support in Washington State, now is the time to make marriage equality a reality.

Today, Jim Brunner of the Seattle Times ran a story announcing Washington United for Marriage, a vast coalition of local organizations, congregations, unions and businesses working together to secure civil marriage for loving, committed gay and lesbian couples in 2012.

HRC is a proud founding member of Washington United, and we look forward to securing marriage in Washington in the coming months. In order to do that, we need your help.

Join us across the state for Community Meetings on Marriage Equality, where you can learn about the campaign and how you can get involved. From Spokane to Gig Harbor, Vancouver to Bellingham, Washingtonians are making their voices heard.

Click here to find the community meeting in your area >>> WWW.HRC.ORG

All the best,

Marty Rouse
National Field Director