In 2001, relations between tribal members and other Klamath Basin residents boiled over after the Klamath Reclamation Project shut off most of the water flowing to Basin irrigators.

There wasn't enough water that year both for irrigation and to meet needs of fish protected under the Endangered Species Act. Irrigators who depended on water stored in Upper Klamath Lake were cut off so that it could be used for protected fish species. The fish included downriver salmon, and two species of suckers, fish of cultural and religious importance to the Klamath Tribes.

Feelings were bitter that year and beyond, but then mellowed after efforts were made to find common ground among irrigators, tribes at both ends of the Klamath River system and fishermen.

Tuesday's hearing conducted by Klamath County Commissioners took another step in the right direction. It could have gone the other way.

The Klamath Basin Alliance had asked commissioners to endorse a resolution opposing return of lands in the Winema-Fremont National Forest and the Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge to the Klamath Tribes. Most of the lands had been part of the Klamath Reservation before it was terminated in a controversy-ridden process whose fairness has been endlessly debated.

Return of at least some of the reservation lands to the Tribes has been a tribal goal, as well as part of its proposed economic plan, but there is no specific request for land on the table.

The Alliance was formed at a time when there was more active discussion of a land transfer.

Better relations?

The result of Tuesday's five-hour hearing was a decision by commissioners to table the measure indefinitely. But there also appear to be honest efforts to form better relations between the Tribes and the Basin Alliance.

Allen Foreman, Klamath Tribes chairman, offered the Basin Alliance a place in any future discussions about a reservation. Alliance President Glenn Howard said he would discuss it with other members.

Debate about re-establishing a land base - a reservation - for Tribes inevitably comes down to an interpretation of events surrounding the Klamath Tribe's termination as a tribe in 1961, transfer of reservation lands to the federal government and payments made for the lands. The tribal organization was re-established in 1986 and “Tribe” became “Tribes” to recognize the Modocs and Yahooskin and their ties to the Klamath area.

It's not likely that either side will change the minds of the other as to the right or wrong of what happened during termination.

But it is important that tribal and non-tribal members be able to share the same Basin and talk about issues that can be bitterly divisive.

They managed to do that Tuesday. That's progress. It's a long way from solving huge underlying issues. But it's still progress.

Editorial board

Pat Bushey wrote today's editorial, which represents the view of the Herald and News editorial board. Its members include:
Publisher Heidi Wright
Editor Steve Miller
Day Editor Marcia McGonigle
Opinion Editor Pat Bushey