June 8, 2023 3:00 a.m.

On Wednesday. The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on legislation introduced by Congresswoman Val Hoyle and Senator Jeff Merkley that would allow the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians to restore their traditional ability to hunt, fish, trap and gather for subsistence and ceremonial purposes on their ancestral lands.

A release from Hoyle said the hearing is an important step forward to bringing the bill to a vote and eventually being signed into law. Hoyle spoke in favor of her bill and pushed to bring it to a vote in committee.

Hoyle said, “The historic consent decree that revoked the right of the Siletz to fish and hunt on their lands is rooted in unjust and quite frankly racist policy. As one of only two Tribes in the entire country that were forced to give up this sovereign right through a consent decree, this bill is about restoring fairness”.  Hoyle said, “I’m proud that my bipartisan bill is moving forward and will help ensure the Siletz are treated as other Tribes are”.

Alfred “Bud” Lane II, Vice-Chairman of the Tribal Council for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians said, “This is an important day for the Siletz Tribe and its membership for generations to come. We appreciate Rep. Hoyle for her work to restore our basic right to hunt, fish and gather in our homelands”.

The release said The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians currently have over 5,000 enrolled members and are headquartered on Oregon’s coast. They and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde are the only tribes in the country that have consent decrees which legally disallow them from negotiating for traditional hunting and fishing activities on their land. Hoyle also supports similar legislation, H.R. 2850, which would address the consent decree that restricts the Grand Ronde Tribe.