Production Enhancement of Native Indian Food and Medicine Resources

The huckleberry, a major religious, traditional, and cultural native food, is highly significant to the people of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon. Those cultural, traditional and religious values are being threatened; as huckleberry plants are eliminated from their natural environment through loss of space, water, nutrients, and sunlight, part of the culture and traditions of the tribal community will die with it. For many Oregonians and tribal people, this is also a family loss as an economic resource and for recreational family activities. Governmental forest management eliminated the traditional burning methods of huckleberry management and promoted commercial timber at the expense of native food resources. This project will develop an opportunity for tribal people to be a part of the traditional ways within today's technology; and to regain community pride and employment through co-management for multiple-use of the forested areas. The objectives are (1) to reduce competitive vegetation thereby increasing availability of sunlight, soil moisture and nutrients to the huckleberry plants while providing ground cover to protect the soil; (2) to restock plants, as needed; (3) to develop employment and training programs to form a pool of skilled workers or contractors.