Tribal Oregon by the Numbers
Oregon exists on the ancestral homelands of many Indigenous peoples. Before colonization, this land was home to the Multnomah, Clackamas, Chinook, Kalapuya, Molalla, Tillamook, and many other nations who stewarded this land for thousands of years. Today, nine federally recognized tribes call Oregon home. Acknowledging this history is the first step. The next step is action.
True equality requires more than acknowledgment. It requires actively repairing the harm caused by generations of broken treaties and building genuine government-to-government relationships with all nine of Oregon's federally recognized tribes.
Oregon's Federally Recognized Tribes
Rabbi Fora is committed to building genuine government-to-government relationships with all nine of Oregon's federally recognized tribes:
Land Back: Restoring What Was Taken
Land Back is not a slogan. It's a moral imperative and a practical policy. Indigenous peoples are the original stewards of this land, and returning land to tribal management benefits everyone: better environmental outcomes, stronger communities, and honoring our legal and moral obligations.
"We must move beyond words to meaningful action. Land Back is not about taking land from current residents. It's about restoring tribal sovereignty over public lands and ensuring tribes have a land base for self-governance and cultural practice."
Rabbi Fora
What Land Back Means in Practice:
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Transfer State Lands
Work with the legislature to transfer appropriate state-owned lands to tribal ownership and management, prioritizing ancestral territories and lands with cultural significance.
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Co-Management Agreements
Establish co-management arrangements for state parks, forests, and other public lands that incorporate traditional ecological knowledge.
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First Right of Refusal
Give tribes first right of refusal when state lands are sold or transferred.
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Support Federal Efforts
Actively support federal legislation to return federal lands in Oregon to tribal ownership.
Office of First Nations
Tribal affairs cannot be an afterthought. They must be central to Oregon's governance. Rabbi Fora will create a cabinet-level Office of First Nations to ensure tribal voices are heard at the highest levels of state government.
Cabinet-Level Authority
The Office will have cabinet-level authority, with direct access to the Governor and influence over all state policy that affects tribal communities.
Tribal Leadership
The Office will be led by tribal members and staffed with people who understand tribal governance from the inside.
Mandatory Consultation
All state agencies will be required to consult with the Office and with affected tribes directly before taking any action that impacts tribal interests.
Treaty Enforcement
The Office will monitor state compliance with tribal treaties and agreements, ensuring Oregon honors its legal obligations.
Honoring Treaty Rights
Treaties are the supreme law of the land. They are not historical artifacts. They are living legal documents that guarantee tribal rights. Oregon has too often ignored or undermined these obligations.
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State-Level Treaty Enforcement
Direct state agencies to actively enforce treaty rights, including fishing, hunting, and gathering rights.
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Protect Sacred Sites
Ensure development and resource extraction do not disturb sacred sites, burial grounds, or places of cultural significance.
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Water Rights
Support tribal water rights and ensure tribes have access to clean water for cultural practices, fishing, and community needs.
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Salmon Restoration
Partner with tribes on salmon restoration, recognizing the cultural, spiritual, and economic importance of salmon to tribal communities.
State Recognition & Support
Federal recognition is a long, difficult process, and some tribal communities have maintained their identity and culture for centuries without it. Oregon can and should recognize these communities at the state level.
State Recognition Process
Create a meaningful state recognition process for tribes that lack federal recognition, providing access to state resources and formal government-to-government relationships.
Support Federal Recognition
Actively support tribes seeking federal recognition, providing resources and advocacy at the federal level.
Language & Cultural Revitalization
Colonial policies deliberately tried to erase Indigenous languages and cultures. Oregon has a responsibility to support their revival and preservation.
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Language Preservation Grants
Expand state funding for tribal language preservation programs, including immersion schools, elder-youth language programs, and documentation efforts.
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Cultural Education
Require Oregon history curriculum to include accurate, tribe-approved content about Indigenous history, developed in partnership with tribal education departments.
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NAGPRA Compliance
Ensure full state compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, returning ancestral remains and cultural items held by state institutions.
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Support Cultural Centers
Provide state funding for tribal cultural centers, museums, and heritage programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Land Back mean taking land from private homeowners?
No. Land Back focuses on returning public lands (state forests, parks, and federally managed areas) to tribal stewardship. It's about transferring government-held lands, not private property. Many Land Back initiatives are about co-management, where tribes share management responsibilities for lands they know intimately.
Why create a cabinet-level Office of First Nations?
Tribal affairs have historically been buried in agencies with no real power. A cabinet-level office ensures tribal voices are heard before decisions are made, not after. It's about consultation, not paperwork, and it saves time and money by avoiding conflicts that arise when tribes are ignored.
How can Oregon enforce treaty rights when treaties are federal documents?
While treaties are federal law, states can choose to actively support or undermine them. Oregon can direct its agencies to respect treaty-protected fishing and gathering rights, refuse to prosecute treaty-protected activities, and advocate for tribal interests at the federal level.
Questions or Feedback?
Have questions about Rabbi Fora's tribal sovereignty policy? Want to share your thoughts? We'd love to hear from you.
Support Tribal Sovereignty
True partnership with Oregon's tribes isn't just the right thing to do. It makes Oregon stronger. Join us in building a future that honors the past.