At great risk, I'll wade into this one....

In retrospect, the Tribe might want to rethink their position on this issue. The Tribes have been doing rain dances for centuries. For all I know, rain dances might be quite effective, for reasons unknown to any of us. However, there is a risk in sending the bill to BPA to request funding. Further, BPA should discuss this with the Tribes and try to get them to change their minds about doing it again.

I do not believe the Tribes should be submitting such funding requests. But not because rain dances might not be effective, or because it was not coordinated with BPA beforehand, or because it might not benefit the BPA hydropower system, or because it's alot of money. The reason BPA should not fund such activities is that, in my opinion, it puts a monetary price tag on traditional tribal ceremonial activities. Even the tribe should recognize that this is sacriledge and should never be considered.

As we all know, tribes across the West have been doing rain dances for centuries. I would presume they've been doing them without expectation of reimbursement from the Federal government. They should be encouraged to continue these practices when the circumstances arise, such as a drought. Or, for that matter, whenever they want.

So what has changed here in the spring of 2001? How can the Tribes put a price tag on their religous ceremonies? If they can, why not put a price on their ceremonial fishing traditions? If they can put a price on a rain dance, why not put a price on ceremonial fishing for spring Chinook in the Bonneville Pool? How much is THAT worth? How much would it cost to buy out their ceremonial/subsistence fishery? The tribes have consistently, and rightly, rejected any attempts to buy-out their fishing rights. It's a matter of principle. And religon. So too should it be with other tribal religous ceremonies.

I know Randy Settler well enough to know that he is an extremely intelligent, rational, and clear-headed individual. I sincerely hope he and the Yakama Tribe rethink their position on this issue and restore a clear seperation between dollars and their traditonal religous ceremonies.