Post by Okwes on Apr 2, 2007 19:29:40 GMT -5
News from the Pacific Northwest
by: Richard Walker
OLYMPIA, Wash. - Five Native members of the Washington state Legislature
took office Jan. 8, giving the state one of the greatest numbers of
Native state legislators in the United States.
Oklahoma has 18, Alaska and Montana each have nine, and New Mexico has
six, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Claudia Kauffman, Nez Perce, was the first Native woman elected to the
state Senate in Washington history on Nov. 7. She is a Democrat
representing Kent. She was named to the following committees: Consumer
Protection and Housing; Early Learning and K - 12 Education; Economic
Development, Trade and Management; and Transportation.
Kauffman has co-sponsored 49 bills, many of them related to education
and transportation. One bill would require simple-majority votes to
approve school levies and bond measures; another would establish a first
peoples' language, culture and history certification program.
Don Barlow, Ottawa, was elected to his first term in the state House in
November. He is a Democrat representing Spokane. He was named to the
Education Committee, the Appropriations Subcommittee on General
Government and Audit Review, and Health Care and Wellness.
Jim Dunn, Inuit, was elected to his fifth term in the state House. He is
a Republican representing Battle Ground. He was named to the Housing
Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education.
John McCoy, Tulalip, was elected to his third term in the state House.
He is a Democrat representing Tulalip. He was named to the following
committees: Technology, Energy and Communications; Agriculture and
Natural Resources; Human Services; and Rules.
Jeff Morris, Tsimshian, was elected to his sixth term in the state
House. A Democrat representing Mount Vernon, he is chairman of the
Technology, Energy and Communications Committee, and a member of the
Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Audit Review.
Morris leads multi-state group
MOUNT VERNON, Wash. - State Rep. Jeff Morris, Tsimshian, was elected by
lawmakers from across the nation to chair the Council of State
Governments - WEST.
Morris, a Democrat from Mount Vernon, was elected to the chairmanship in
December 2006.
''Rising energy prices, connecting power grids and dealing with new
communication technologies are all challenges the Western states need to
address together,'' Morris said. ''[The council] is a great venue to
talk about these issues and to share ideas.''
The council provides a platform for non-partisan, regional collaboration
among the legislatures of the 13 Western states. It creates
opportunities for legislators and staff members to share ideas and
experiences with their colleagues.
''The north Puget Sound region is greatly affected by decisions made by
other Western states,'' Morris said. ''I look forward to representing
our unique community both in Olympia and at [the council].''
The council's membership is composed of the legislatures of Alaska,
Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New
Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Associate members include
the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, and the Pacific
islands of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands and Guam.
Delegates meet for Coast Salish Gathering
DUNCAN, British Columbia - Hundreds of Coast Salish leaders from the
United States and Canada will gather in the Cowichan Longhouse and Si'em
Le Lum Gymnasium for the second Coast Salish Gathering, Jan. 24 - 26.
Representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and
Environment Canada are expected to join this year's delegates in
discussing possible policies to protect the region's rich marine
diversity and other diminishing resources. Delegates say these resources
- essential to sustaining the cultures, economies and homelands of
tribes in western Washington and First Nations in British Columbia - are
under significant pressure from population growth, industrial expansion
and climate change.
''As leaders and protectors of our shared homeland, we strive to
establish a policy dialogue that will generate actions to ensure the
protection of our shared ecosystems. We need a vision for the future,''
wrote Lisa Shaver, president of the Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group Board of
Directors, and Cowichan Chief Harvey Alphonse.
Search intensifies for runaway Colville girl
UNION GAP, Wash. - The National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children is assisting in the search for a 15-year-old Colville girl
believed to have run away from home June 10.
Family members say Kirstie Roxanne Grunlose has not been heard from or
seen since she left her aunt's house after a dispute with a cousin. Her
aunt, Diane Grunlose, said the family initially believed Kirstie was
headed to her mother's house in the Portland, Ore., area, but seven
months have now passed since Kirstie was last seen.
The aunt said Kirstie was upset because of her mother's impending move
to California. Kirstie was going to live with her grandparents in
Nespelem and attend Paschal Sherman Indian School, the aunt said.
A Union Gap police detective said Kirstie had had ''computer contact
with a male, possibly a boyfriend.'' The detective said Kirstie does not
have a history of running away. A poster issued by the national center
stated that Kirstie ''may be with a male companion. They may have
traveled to Oregon.''
The national center considers Kirstie an ''endangered runaway.'' She is
described as 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 135 pounds, brown hair and green
eyes. Her nickname is Kirstie Bear.
Anyone with information about Kirstie should call (800) THE-LOST.
Richard Walker is a correspondent reporting from San Juan Island, Wash.
Contact him at rmwalker@rockisland.com.
by: Richard Walker
OLYMPIA, Wash. - Five Native members of the Washington state Legislature
took office Jan. 8, giving the state one of the greatest numbers of
Native state legislators in the United States.
Oklahoma has 18, Alaska and Montana each have nine, and New Mexico has
six, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Claudia Kauffman, Nez Perce, was the first Native woman elected to the
state Senate in Washington history on Nov. 7. She is a Democrat
representing Kent. She was named to the following committees: Consumer
Protection and Housing; Early Learning and K - 12 Education; Economic
Development, Trade and Management; and Transportation.
Kauffman has co-sponsored 49 bills, many of them related to education
and transportation. One bill would require simple-majority votes to
approve school levies and bond measures; another would establish a first
peoples' language, culture and history certification program.
Don Barlow, Ottawa, was elected to his first term in the state House in
November. He is a Democrat representing Spokane. He was named to the
Education Committee, the Appropriations Subcommittee on General
Government and Audit Review, and Health Care and Wellness.
Jim Dunn, Inuit, was elected to his fifth term in the state House. He is
a Republican representing Battle Ground. He was named to the Housing
Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education.
John McCoy, Tulalip, was elected to his third term in the state House.
He is a Democrat representing Tulalip. He was named to the following
committees: Technology, Energy and Communications; Agriculture and
Natural Resources; Human Services; and Rules.
Jeff Morris, Tsimshian, was elected to his sixth term in the state
House. A Democrat representing Mount Vernon, he is chairman of the
Technology, Energy and Communications Committee, and a member of the
Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Audit Review.
Morris leads multi-state group
MOUNT VERNON, Wash. - State Rep. Jeff Morris, Tsimshian, was elected by
lawmakers from across the nation to chair the Council of State
Governments - WEST.
Morris, a Democrat from Mount Vernon, was elected to the chairmanship in
December 2006.
''Rising energy prices, connecting power grids and dealing with new
communication technologies are all challenges the Western states need to
address together,'' Morris said. ''[The council] is a great venue to
talk about these issues and to share ideas.''
The council provides a platform for non-partisan, regional collaboration
among the legislatures of the 13 Western states. It creates
opportunities for legislators and staff members to share ideas and
experiences with their colleagues.
''The north Puget Sound region is greatly affected by decisions made by
other Western states,'' Morris said. ''I look forward to representing
our unique community both in Olympia and at [the council].''
The council's membership is composed of the legislatures of Alaska,
Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New
Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Associate members include
the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, and the Pacific
islands of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands and Guam.
Delegates meet for Coast Salish Gathering
DUNCAN, British Columbia - Hundreds of Coast Salish leaders from the
United States and Canada will gather in the Cowichan Longhouse and Si'em
Le Lum Gymnasium for the second Coast Salish Gathering, Jan. 24 - 26.
Representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and
Environment Canada are expected to join this year's delegates in
discussing possible policies to protect the region's rich marine
diversity and other diminishing resources. Delegates say these resources
- essential to sustaining the cultures, economies and homelands of
tribes in western Washington and First Nations in British Columbia - are
under significant pressure from population growth, industrial expansion
and climate change.
''As leaders and protectors of our shared homeland, we strive to
establish a policy dialogue that will generate actions to ensure the
protection of our shared ecosystems. We need a vision for the future,''
wrote Lisa Shaver, president of the Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group Board of
Directors, and Cowichan Chief Harvey Alphonse.
Search intensifies for runaway Colville girl
UNION GAP, Wash. - The National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children is assisting in the search for a 15-year-old Colville girl
believed to have run away from home June 10.
Family members say Kirstie Roxanne Grunlose has not been heard from or
seen since she left her aunt's house after a dispute with a cousin. Her
aunt, Diane Grunlose, said the family initially believed Kirstie was
headed to her mother's house in the Portland, Ore., area, but seven
months have now passed since Kirstie was last seen.
The aunt said Kirstie was upset because of her mother's impending move
to California. Kirstie was going to live with her grandparents in
Nespelem and attend Paschal Sherman Indian School, the aunt said.
A Union Gap police detective said Kirstie had had ''computer contact
with a male, possibly a boyfriend.'' The detective said Kirstie does not
have a history of running away. A poster issued by the national center
stated that Kirstie ''may be with a male companion. They may have
traveled to Oregon.''
The national center considers Kirstie an ''endangered runaway.'' She is
described as 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 135 pounds, brown hair and green
eyes. Her nickname is Kirstie Bear.
Anyone with information about Kirstie should call (800) THE-LOST.
Richard Walker is a correspondent reporting from San Juan Island, Wash.
Contact him at rmwalker@rockisland.com.