Day 10 Two for Tuesday, discussion with Spokane Natural Resources, two rivers, and Mr. George Hill

Day 10 Tuesday: Sleep felt rather good this morning…

After breakfast, we were off to the Little Chamokane Creek to shock fish.

I rode to the stream/river with Driver- Britanny, Front Seat Passenger- Jordan, Other Passenger- James.

Nice to ride with the locals, it is always good to get to know other people especially in a foreign land. Well this is not entirely foreign but I am not familiar with this area.

When we arrived to Little Chamokane Creek to listen to the Natural Resource Fishery talks and learn what they do.

Overall they shock fish to get counts of types and tag the various fishes in these rivers and creeks. I had the opportunity to use the Shocker, valued at $10,000, a device that temporarily stuns the fish temporarily. I accidently put my hands into the water during the process of shocking, and let me tell you… That feeling certainly woke me up, not devastatingly dangerous yet not the most gentle feeling either.

Just before lunch we returned to the Middle/High School… Let me tell you this facility is extremely nice. We arrived just in time to listen to Twa-Le Swan’s discussion on Air Quality.

Twa-le Swan, Air Quality Program Manager-  Discussion opened up with a hand-out regarding of the Midnite Mine Superfund Community Involvement Plan.

Ms. Swan is an activist on Air Quality, she is passionately concerned about the tribal natural environment. Currently she works with the Air Quality, Ms. Swan also has a weekly Radio Show. Radio communication is widely used in this area because Cellular service and Internet is not accessible as it is for us who are visiting.

Briefly discussed our talks with the Mining company (Midnite, Newmont, Dawn Mining Company), how the Mining executive/speakers avoided answering questions. How the company has a practice of dropping the responsibilities on the little companies. In this case, the tribe will be the lesser of the two companies that may lose out. Apparently Newmont does this throughout the world, just to avoid bankruptcy because they are almost considered as “consultants” therefore avoiding the implications of hazardous aftermaths.

The Midnite Mine, or Dawn Mine? Newmont Mine, Tribal Mine…

Newmont Mine usually hides behind other Mining companies until these companies go bankruptcy, then Newmont usually backs out, this has been there practice.

Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (AAQM), observing air quality, Particle Pollution (PM 2.5) & Ozone Monitoring

Air Quality Burn Advisories

Permit Review

AAQM, are observing Ozone pollution in the Norhwest.

A lot of the tribes are being impacted by pollution because of the air pollution created in the big cities. Since the bigger cities are creating this air pollution, it pushes this out to the country, or in this case, it forces pollution onto the Rez.

Discussion of wildfires, Twa-Le mentioned the fire in Wenatchee. And how this sort of natural pollution affects the air.

Here are a few of the other topics covered:

Indoor Air Quality updated Washington State Radon Risk Map.

Radon is odorless and tasteless… The testing and fixing of this problem is not a high cost. But the budget keeps getting cut lower every year.

Uranium is being discovered in people’s wells, and the people have been drinking this water for years. It is a possible beginning stage of cancers. Not only is the water being consumed but it is used for bathing.

Protection of Traditional & Culturally Significant Plants: Huckleberry is one of the plants being affected by the Ozone problems. Along with the Roots, which are traditional foods for the Spokane Indians and other tribal diets

Huckleberry plants will get a yellow color on the leaves.

Radiation Monitoring- An Airplane flew over the reservation in 2011 and took a photograph that highlighted the radiation level.

There are 2 Mines, Midnite Mine, and Sherwood Mine. Both are Uranium Mines.

Radio Show called “Inner Tribal Beat”

Radio is the best way to connect with the local audience. This is due to the fact that the Cellular service and Internet is so slow or not present.

One of the problems has been the oil by rail project. Recently the tribes have been opposing this because of the pollution problem.

No one is benefiting from this problem,

Foal and oil trains will close the streets for 2 to 4 hours daily.

The coal is not being burned in the United States, it is being burned in China.

The tribe has been fighting coal since the 1980’s.

Law Magentic

Sight Line Interstate website

Another impact is the Barge Traffic, The companies wanted to use this as an alternative route to carry the charcoal. The amount of Barge traffic has been hugely increasing.  A hot issue with the tribes right now.

The tribes are coming together,

The Spokane will be having a tour in August, the Lummi is carving a ceremony. Maybe the 25^th of August. The Lummi Totem Pole Journey. The tribes that are coming together about the impact of our reservations.

Twe-La shared an abundant amount of information, I believe a class like us would need to listen to her discussions for at least a week to totally understand, to be honest everything we are learning is a condensed version of what is going on in the Northwest Natural Resource environment.

In the afternoon we visited one of the local facilities where the Natural Resource Departments own a house and farm. The purpose for this facility is to grow Fields of corn, Barley, and other foods for the wildlife in this area, but not for the local cows and Wild Horses that they refer to as Farrel Horses. They have been turned out, there have been Farrel Horses that have been Free Ranging their whole life. The horses on the property you can actually feed them.  

Savannah (or Hannah, I didn't write her name down?) discussed the way the tribe does fly overs in the winter to count the amount of Moose, Elks, Horses. This past winter was dry so it was difficult to count many, because they blend in with the environment… BUT they know the Moose count is up because some of these animals eat the grass in the front yards of their houses similar to having a bit pet. The comical side of this is that they do not need to mow their lawns.

Next we visited Two Rivers to swim, and not do too bad.

When we returned to camp, some of the students who help Warren were waiting. They brought us a Salmon. Alyssa and Chaylene prepared tonights meal. Deliciously cooked fish.

Mr. George Hill also visited us and showed us his Art collection, well a portion of it. He also discussed the story behind the display. I really liked the sculptures…very inspiring.

Last event of the night, we visited a short house with Warren, shared a little something which brought us all together emotionally. Creating a stronger bond between the whole group.

I know I maybe writing erratically but this entire trip, and lack of consistent technology combines a condensed and melting pot of information. I am thankful to learn all of this environmental science information.

I have a video of Mr. Hill discussion although it is too large to upload here, I will update the youtube link real soon.