Karuk Tribe petition against Klamath Dam removal,

November 2008, Cover Letter and Petition

"So far nearly 250 Karuk Tribal members and community members living on or near the Klamath River have signed a petition opposing removal of 4 hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River."

On each petition is printed:

"As Tribal Members/Community Members:
     * We do not agree with dam removal; dams are not the reason for the salmon net returning to the Klamath River.
     * Small groups of tribal members, along with small interest groups, are not representing all tribal members/communities along the Klamath; they represent their own agenda.
     * All tribal members and community members should be able to have a voice, not a select few."

HERE for Karuk Tribe cover letter on Petition. 

Many Karuk Tribal members are disappointed by the continuous promotion of dam removal on the Klamath Rive. Unfortunately this is being done by a very small contingency of tribal members being led by Vice-Chair Leaf Hillman and tribal spokesman Craig Tucker.

We would like everyone to know they represent a very small percentage of Karuk Tribe members in communities along the Klamath River and in other areas as well. Many, many members do not agree with removal of the dams as they know the devastation it will cause down river.

We believe that enough time, money and resources have been spent for a select few and their families to travel thousands of miles to Scotland and Omaha, Nebraska to protest the Klamath Dam removal projects.

Continued protests and their wasted expenses seem frivolous when we have tribal members who go without dentures, medical necessities and vital surgeries, not to mention much needed subsidies for college expenses. We believe these wasted expenditures should go towards more practical purposes. If tribal leaders are given special government grants to take their families and travel extensively to protest dam removal, then we would simply like them to show the verifying documentation to us, the Karuk tribal members.

As for fish being a mainstay of Karuk Tribe members for survival, times change and since the inception of the grocery store this has changed too.

Newspaper articles quoting Hillman and other "spokespersons' do not represent all tribal members, merely a small minority.

It is now time for Tribal Council members to step up and address this and other issues and not just give "lip service." These actions reflect on all tribal members and we are sick and tired of the negative publicity that a select few receive for speaking on behalf of the entire tribe."