Umatilla Tribes and Richland Officials Work Togeth

[Okwes]

Umatilla Tribes and Richland Officials Work Together

RICHLAND, Wash. -- The Richland City Council met Thursday with the Umatilla
tribes in hopes that the two groups can work together in the future. In the
past, their have been disagreements between the two groups regarding new
developments in Richland.

But, Umatilla tribe leaders are still concerned about the archeological,
burial, and cultural sites all along both sides of Columbia Point. These have
become prime areas for Richland's development.
At Thursday's meeting, tribe officials called for an improved agreement with
the city. Umatilla Tribes Board of Trustees member Armand Minthorn said, "We
both acknowledged that existing agreements need to be strengthened and that's
a good thing."
Tribe officials say that now they feel they like are working in partnership
with the city. Whereas, before their 1994 agreement with the city, they many
times felt their ideas were ignored. Tribe officials say they must keep in
constant contact with city officials as Richland continues to develop.