Tribes Will Discuss Reservation Mining

A series of informational meetings is under way for members of the Colville Confederated Tribes who will be asked to vote in September on whether to allow mining on their reservation.

Mining companies have expressed interest in exploring the reservation for minerals, but the Tribal Council placed a moratorium on the issue last August so members could be consulted.

A representative of the tribe’s Geology Department said the council has not yet set a date for the vote, written the ballot question or decided whether the result will be binding.

In addition to sessions earlier this week at Inchelium and Keller, there will be informational meetings tonight at the Nespelem Community Center, Thursday at the Omak Community Center, Tuesday at the Sheraton-Spokane Hotel, Aug. 2 at the Heritage Inn Restaurant at Toppenish and Aug. 3 at the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center in Seattle.

All of the meetings will be from 7 p.m to 10 p.m., preceded by a reception at 6 p.m. Only tribal members and their immediate families can attend.

Information will be presented by the Colville Indian Environmental Protection Alliance and the Northwest Mining Association. Tribal planners and resource workers, members of the tribes’ Cultural Resources Board and representatives of various state and federal regulatory agencies also will attend.

, DataTimes