In This Issue:

THE KARUK TRIBE EMERGENCE

by Dennis J. Whittlesey

With a new stunning administrative victory in hand, the Karuk Tribe of California is already planning its path to the economic opportunities fueled by casino revenues that many tribes have enjoyed for years but which were denied to it.

The Karuks have long been an effective force for change even though they had to forge their achievements with meager financial resources since much of its historic territory in far Northern California consists of mountainous terrain primarily accessed by the narrow Klamath River highway built on the banks of that winding river and rarely visited by large numbers of people due to its remoteness. Still, the Tribe has long been known throughout Indian Country for its stable and effective tribal government and leadership as well as its leadership in such matters as the effort to achieve the removal of dams on the Klamath River, directly resulting in the execution two years ago of the landmark Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement and Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement.

The Tribe was able to manage its money and grants to develop comprehensive services for its membership of approximately 4,000 largely spread along the river basin with primary population centers at the small river towns of Happy Camp and Orleans as well as the larger city of Yreka at the eastern end of its historic occupancy area.