More than 18,000 acres of federal forest land in Oregon could be transferred into trust for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde under new legislation introduced in the US Congress, in a move the tribe says would help rebuild part of its land base after decades of federal termination.The Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act, introduced on September 17 by US Sen. Jeff Merkley and US Rep. Andrea Salinas, would transfer 18,626 acres of federal land managed by the US Forest Service to the tribe. The land lies in the Siuslaw National Forest near the Tillamook-Yamhill county line, east of Hebo and close to the Grand Ronde community.The legislation has not yet transferred the land. It is a proposed federal bill that would place the acreage in trust for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde if enacted.Despite the change in ownership status, the proposed legislation would keep the area available for public recreation. According to the lawmakers’ announcement, the tribe would maintain public and recreational access, including opportunities for hunting, fishing and general recreation. Grand Ronde could regulate or temporarily restrict access for reasons including public safety, administration, fish and wildlife management or emergencies.The proposal comes against the backdrop of a major loss of Grand Ronde land and federal recognition during the 20th century. Congress passed the Western Oregon Termination Act in 1954, ending the federal government’s recognition and trust relationship with the Grand Ronde Tribe. The tribe says its members remained effectively landless in their own homeland between termination and restoration. Federal recognition was restored in 1983 through the Grand Ronde Restoration Act. A reservation was subsequently re-established. The US Department of the Interior says Congress established an 9,811-acre reservation for the tribe in 1988, which later grew to 10,120 acres through subsequent legislation.The tribe now manages approximately 16,000 acres through its Natural Resources Department, covering areas including forestry, recreation and wildlife conservation, according to Grand Ronde. The tribe says the proposed transfer would provide additional land for forest management, wildlife, recreation, timber and wildfire resilience.Grand Ronde Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy said the proposed transfer would help the tribe “rebuild the reservation, community and economy” lost through termination. She said the tribe would manage the forests using knowledge passed down through generations.Merkley said the legislation would allow Grand Ronde to strengthen self-determination and manage ancestral lands while creating economic opportunities in the region. Salinas described the proposal as a response to the historical loss of the tribe’s ancestral lands.The bill is backed by other members of Oregon’s congressional delegation, including Sen. Ron Wyden and Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Maxine Dexter and Janelle Bynum. It also has support from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Tillamook and Yamhill counties, the Oregon Department of Forestry and several conservation and land-management organisations.If Congress passes the legislation, the 18,626 acres would become part of the tribe’s trust land while continuing to provide public access under the conditions outlined in the proposed act.
