Cowlitz Indian Tribe formalizes support for the Green River Valley Alliance!
Last month, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe sent a letter of support to our federal representatives highlighting the Tribe’s endorsement of the Green River Valley Alliance and our mineral withdrawal campaign. The Cowlitz have been stewards of the Green River Valley and Mount St. Helens for thousands of years and have been longtime partners in protecting this landscape from the threat of mining, working closely with Cascade Forest Conservancy and other organizations on both legal and advocacy efforts. On the urgency of this work, Cowlitz Tribal Chairwoman Patty Kinswa-Gaiser writes, “So far, [permits allowing mining activities] have been successfully challenged, but that approach will not work forever. These federal lands are part of our aboriginal homelands. A future mine would be devastating for this culturally and ecologically significant landscape, and particularly costly for the Cowlitz People.”
Chairwoman Kinswa-Gaiser also noted the multifaceted value of the area and the need for quick action on the part of our elected officials, writing, “Given the high cultural, ecological, and recreational values these lands provide, I urge you to support the Green River Valley Alliance in their efforts to secure a legislative mineral withdrawal for the Green River Valley… Please help us protect the Green River Valley from short-sighted mining interest before it is too late.”
We are grateful for our longtime partnership with the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and will continue moving forward together to defend this irreplaceable landscape. You can read the full letter of support below:
