Tulalip tribe effort to lock public out of public land

[Skyvalhunter]

A couple weeks ago I stopped by the Skykomish ranger station to voice my concern about the new gate installed on the Eagle Creek road. I was informed by the district ranger that one of the small land owners, Tulalip Indian tribe didn't want non members in there thus the gate. The larger land owner Skykomish resources didn't have a problem with public access but was over ruled by the Tulalips.
   A few weeks later I suggested to two disabled & one elderly hunter to go hunting up Harlan ridge since it was an easy walk past an existing USFS gate. I was later informed by the hunters that a new gate was installed several miles lower on the road leading up. I drove up and checked out the new gate to see if it was a USFS or what but couldn't  tell who installed it.I stopped by the ranger station to ask what the justification for the gate was since there was already one up higher. The district ranger told me the Tulalip tribe installed the gate because they didn't want non tribal members up there. Now all the property on Harlan ridge is USFS property (public)not tribal owned. The USFS has allowed the Tulalip tribe to harvest huckleberries, cut down and burn trees up there to cultivate the berry plants even though they don't own the property. The Tulalip tribe claimed it was ancesterial berry gathering ground even though the it was previously logged by Weyerhauser and access at that time would have been impossible. To deny other out recreationists access to public land is not right. Our tax dollars pay for road up keep and access. I was informed by the district ranger that the Tulalips didn't want any acknowledgement that the gate was installed by them for fear of the bad publicity. With that being said they know that installing the gate in order to keep they general public out is wrong.
   I am hoping that removing the gate and allowing back public access to their land is restored. The Tulalip tribe has hired an ex For terra employee to handle their future land acquisitions so this a sign of things to come.

[JakeLand]

Ya that 2nd gate has been there well over a year now I think and it’s complete BS
Who do we contact state or federal to fix this problem

[BA Mongor]

It will not be removed. We continue to lose access to the lands we all pay for to special interest groups who live in the USA.
The insanity should stop. They live in America. We didn't occupy Japan because it wasn't on America soil. These groups live in the USA.
They lost.....We won. That should be the end of it.

No More Unlimited Hunting Rights
No More Unlimited Access To Our Lands
No More Locking Us Out Of Our Lands

It's Time These Groups Abide By the Laws That We All Adhere To !!!!

[JDArms1240]

Yeah this kills me, but I’m afraid it is only going to get worse.  Especially here in WA state 

[Skyvalhunter]

I am starting to contact higher ups than Skykomish district ranger (michael.smith7@usda.gov) who's supervisor is Jody Weil(jody.weil@usda.gov), my representative, Cantwell, Murray, Forterra. Logging companies like Campbell/Skykomish resources who log their property, plant it then end up selling it to the tribes.
 It is just not right that our federal/public land be locked out to the public where  our tax dollars go for road maintenance, fire fighting, etc.  It's a different bird if they actually owned the property or part of it but they don't it's totally federal land. For them to put right tell the district ranger that they don't want people up there, and they want no signs at the gate because it will cause bad publicity is total BS. Well I am going to give them bad publicity alright.
  When I asked what would happen to someone who went around the tribes gate he said there's nothing the federal LEO could do since it was not put up by them.

[Boss .300 winmag]

If it’s not illegal to go around, I know what I’d be doing and it wouldn’t be going around.😉

[fishngamereaper]

If it’s not illegal to go around, I know what I’d be doing and it wouldn’t be going around.😉

 

[Skyvalhunter]

Yea true I am just trying to get access for everyone not just those that have a motorcycle, quad, etc. Trying the diplomatic avenue first. To tell the district ranger they don't want nontribal members hunting up there, picking berries is totally not right.

[Whitefoot]

 

It will not be removed. We continue to lose access to the lands we all pay for to special interest groups who live in the USA.
The insanity should stop. They live in America. We didn't occupy Japan because it wasn't on America soil. These groups live in the USA.
They lost.....We won. That should be the end of it.

No More Unlimited Hunting Rights
No More Unlimited Access To Our Lands
No More Locking Us Out Of Our Lands

It's Time These Groups Abide By the Laws That We All Adhere To !!!!

[pianoman9701]

Ya that 2nd gate has been there well over a year now I think and it’s complete BS
Who do we contact state or federal to fix this problem

If the land is indeed FS land, contact your US representative to have the gate removed. Another issue could be whether it's ceded land. As I understand it, ceded land is land that the tribes gave up by signing treaties. They are sometimes later claimed if the treaties were not followed or members of the tribe were not consulted at the time of signing the treaty with the specifics of giving up that land.

[Skyvalhunter]

According to the district ranger the only agreement they have was to be able to cultivate the berry fields based on ancesterial berry picking grounds. Like I said there was 2 small meadows. And large timber until weyco logged it in the 70 & 80's. The elevation there is around 5000 and not near any pass,etc so to claim it's ancesterial is BS. But someone bought into that and allow them to harvest berries. They had nice signs up saying feel free to take what you use, it's open to all. They had to file a Nepa or one of those gov requests to cut down trees and burn slash. That is coming up for renewal with public comment later this year. Regardless they don't own public land but are treating it as their own personal use.

[lewy]

Id be hauling my excavator up there and digging it out or torching it down

[Skyvalhunter]

That's an option at a later time.    thought of a few other options too

[lewy]

I’m so tired of this kind of BS

[fishngamereaper]

FOI request for any correspondence between the FS and the tribe. And between FS employees.
See who agreed to what and what steps where skipped.
Sorry but politicians won't help.
FS is screwed up and local politicians are bought and paid for by tribes already.