In 2023, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission corrected a historic injustice by restoring the Grand Ronde’s ability to issue fishing and hunting tags for land within the Tribe’s homelands without state permits.&nbsp;
This agreement plays a critical role in preserving Grand Ronde’s cultural traditions and legacy. It also balances the Tribe’s rights with wildlife population management needs by opening these Tribal hunting and fishing activities to a mere 7% of Oregon’s total land open to hunting and fishing.&nbsp;
Some Columbia River tribes, however, have falsely claimed the agreement with the state of Oregon should be nullified. These other tribes, many of whom do not even reside in Oregon, want the Commission to reverse its agreement with Grand Ronde on claims that range from misleading to downright untruthful.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The truth is this agreement does not impact any other tribe’s treaty rights. Oregon is simply honoring Grand Ronde’s connection to the land and their ancestral homelands.&nbsp;
We need you to voice the truth! With your help, we can ensure Grand Ronde’s hunting and fishing rights on their ancestral land are not taken away.
<h3 style="margin-left:1in;">Tell The Oregon Fish &amp; Wildlife Commission to Honor their Agreement with Grand Ronde! </h3>

I am writing to encourage you to stand behind your commission’s 2023 Memorandum of Agreement with the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde that expanded access to the Tribe’s historical homelands for subsistence and ceremonial hunting. 
This agreement was a long-overdue step to recognize Grand Ronde’s sovereign rights and cultural traditions. This historic decision should not be reversed so hastily, especially at the behest of other tribes (many of which do not reside in Oregon) who have long antagonized the Grand Ronde at every turn for no other reason than their own enrichment. 
The 2023 agreement has not only allowed the Tribe to carry out ceremonial and subsistence fishing and hunting (benefitting tribal members, their families, and their community, many of whom live away from the reservation) but also brings the Grand Ronde in line with other western Oregon tribes that already have similar agreements with the state. 
The vote you took was legal, fair, and based on strong precedent. Considering the original agreement already requires a review by the Commission in 2028, revisiting it now would damage trust, undermine the state’s relationship with tribes, and create unnecessary division. 
This agreement does not interfere with any other tribe’s treaty rights, and it deserves to stand.
I ask you to stay the course and deny petitions to reopen rulemaking on this issue.

Grand Ronde’s Sovereignty Is at Risk!