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Tribal historic preservation officer seeks renewed agreement for Kootenai Falls annual gathering
Summary
Madeline Kayai, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, asked Lincoln County to reestablish a use agreement and communications for the tribes' annual gathering at Kootenai Falls; county staff said they would search records and work with the tribe to formalize an arrangement.
Madeline Kayai, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, asked the Lincoln County Board of County Commissioners on April 8 to reestablish communications and a use agreement for the tribes' longstanding annual gathering at Kootenai Falls.
Kayai said the gathering has taken place "since before I can remember" and that tribal elders recalled a historic verbal or written agreement to use the area; she asked the county to help locate any existing record of such an agreement and, if none exists, to work toward a written arrangement. County staff acknowledged parking and trail improvements and said the county could likely close the area for a short period to allow the event; staff agreed to search records and follow up with Kayai.
Commissioners and staff emphasized the need to document any historic agreement to avoid future misunderstandings and to coordinate event logistics, including parking and public-safety considerations during peak summer tourism months. Kayai thanked the board for the willingness to research records and to continue discussions about a formal arrangement for the tribes' annual gathering.
