Letters to the Editor 01/09/2025

RE: “The Damned Deschutes”
Nigel Jaquiss’s recent article misses the point. The story is not one of an electric utility, its critics and the health of the Deschutes River. That framing is too narrow. The real story is one of tribal sovereignty, resilience and self-determination. To be precise, the sovereignty of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs is the real story.

Like my tribe, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs possesses ancient sovereignty as a “Treaty tribe.” And, like us, they are a large land-based, rural tribe with limited economic opportunity, persistent poverty, diminished life expectancy and public safety issues, among others.

Unlike other sovereigns, our governments have limited ability to generate revenue to provide for the welfare of our people. We, thus, are required to turn to economic development to generate necessary revenues. Economic development sometimes does fit neatly with our Indigenous cultures and every other policy priority of our tribal governments, yet we press on — because we must. Our teachings instruct us that we have a duty to manage our resources for seven generations into the future, which is necessarily predicated on our people’s continued survival.

I understand that, for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the waters of the Deschutes River and the salmon are the first and second gifts of the Creator. Yet, they made the sovereign choice to become a part owner of the Pelton hydroelectric project. If you wish to understand that choice, you should ask them why and be prepared to listen, really listen. Doing so honors their sovereignty and dignity.

In my view, that did not happen with Mr. Jaquiss’s article. His apparent cramped, antiquated understanding of tribal sovereignty as monolithically synonymous with NGOs’ liberal values or non-Native sports-fishermen’s interests in large trophy specimens of particular species of fish is simply wrong.

Tribal citizens rely on dynamic, modern tribal governments to balance many competing priorities and values in the way that best provides for the wellness of future generations — exactly as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs has done with respect to their economic development on the Deschutes River and their Treaty-protected fisheries. The Tribe should be honored for its careful, thoughtful stewardship of the resources they have protected from time immemorial.
—J. Garret Renville, Chairman, Coalition of Large Tribes

RE: “Interview with Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler”
The Bend City Council has committed drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, pets and wildlife to unnecessary danger without addressing road improvements near the Caldera Ranch UGB. Knott Road and adjacent roads are an increasing safety concern for the vehicles joining Knott Road between China Hat Road to 15th Street and beyond. Blind curves as well as heavy traffic at times can make pulling out of a side street scary. Commercial big rig traffic between Route 97 to Route 20 are also increasing. Transit routes should not be an afterthought. Inadequate turning lanes, pedestrian walkways, bike lanes and a growing student population make the corridor very dangerous. Ambulance and emergency vehicles must have access to all populated areas when needed. What will happen once thousands of new residents move into all the new and planned developments in southeast Bend? Should we wait for a major catastrophe to plan for the evacuation of thousands? Lava lands is not just history! There will be fires. Absolutely, the city needs more affordable housing. If possible, I hope the council can modify plans. We all want this to remain a great place to live and enjoy.
—James Moos via bendsource.com on 12/29/24

RE: Response to “Love a River” Letter from 1/2
TSW’s 2 January 2025 issue with Kevin Tanski’s letter ended with an uncomfortable dump and run for me. After a lifetime of loving and using the Deschutes River as a playground he insists — as a “certified old guy,” it’s now time for the “youngins to get after the dying river to save it.” Really? What more can the old guy generation dump on the youth of today? The planet is trashed; wildlife, insects, birds, plants are on the brink of extinction; oceans are warming and full of trash with dead zones multiplying; much of the air is polluted as is the soil and fresh water lakes and rivers; food is contaminated if not indigestible; resources are extracted at an unprecedented rate; the planet’s carrying capacity was exceeded decades ago… It is BECAUSE the generations of old guys have been unwilling/unable/don’t care/in denial… that our planet is in a mess. To date, much has been dumped on the shoulders of the next generation — our youth who never volunteered for this impossible achievement.
—M.A. Kruse

Recycle Runners
Whenever I take my three or four bags of household trash to the Deschutes County landfill, I see items that have been prematurely thrown away. A few years ago, I rescued (which I think is against the rules) two large, high-quality, undamaged dog beds, which are still in use. Recently, huge sheets of aluminum and other construction materials were dumped because it would have taken the contractor added time to separate and drop off the metals at Radius Recycling or the landfill’s recycling center. On my last visit, there was a nice set of golf clubs and bag that should have gone to a charity thrift store for resale. Diverting recyclable and reusable items would save landfill space, save valuable metals and keep usable items in the community while supporting nonprofit charities.

In our county landfill’s clean and very well-run indoor facility, citizens drive in and dump their household trash onto a concrete floor. After enough piles have been made, a bulldozer clears the floor by pushing everything into a below-floor bin or trailer for transport to the dumping site. As citizens create those piles of household trash, one or two individuals could easily divert items that should be recycled or given to charities for resale.

Would it be possible for the Deschutes County landfill to create “Recycle Runner” employee positions in order to divert items that are being improperly dumped by individual citizens? If the landfill’s budget would not support such employee positions, could citizen volunteers be allowed to divert metals to the landfill’s recycling center and still-usable items to charity thrift stores? We are wasting resources by burying economically valuable items in our conveniently located but soon-to-be-full Deschutes County landfill.
—Eddie Kinnamon

Letter of the Week:
Eddie, thanks for your insightful suggestion. Reduce, reuse, recycle!
—Chris Young

This article appears in The Source Weekly January 9, 2025.