In the fall of 2021, William Haberman, managing member of Valiant Idaho, LLC, the owner of The Idaho Club, approached the Kaniksu Land Trust (KLT) about placing a parcel of the company’s land in a conservation agreement, with the goal of protecting the property as open space and natural habitat. The 75-acre Moose Mountain parcel located on the west shore of the Pack River Delta lies within a wildlife travel corridor and sits adjacent to an interconnected system of state and federal lands bordering the Pack River, and it is significantly valuable from a conservation perspective.

Considering that the land would never be commercially developed by The Idaho Club, Haberman suggested donating the land outright to KLT since the organization is in a better position to manage the land for conservation.

However, after many conversations with Ray Entz, the Kalispel Tribe‘s director of wildlife and terrestrial resources, KLT recognized that the tribe had been working to revive their canoe culture but was limited by a lack of suitable access points. Because the parcel was at one time part of the Kalispel Tribe’s native homeland and includes undeveloped access to Pack River, KLT proposed that The Idaho Club gift the parcel to the Tribe instead.

On December 27, 2021, the Kalispel Tribe was gifted the Pack River Delta property by The Idaho Club, reclaiming a portion of their traditional homeland, which extends roughly from Plains, Mont., westward along the Clark Fork River to Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho, and west along the Pend Oreille River to the border with Washington.

“KLT is honored to have served as a facilitator in support of this very meaningful gift,” shares Regan Plumb, KLT’s conservation director. “We recognize the value in returning this wild mountainside to its original caretakers.”

Land Trusts across the nation are exploring ways of restoring stewardship and access to culturally significant lands by indigenous tribes. This “Land-back” movement is exemplified by projects such as the Esselen Tribe’s reclamation of 1,199 acres in Monterey County, California, a 3,200-acre land purchase by the Coquille Indian Tribe in Oregon, and the 640-acres in British Columbia that a rancher gifted back to the Esk’etemc First Nation.

For KLT and the Kalispel Tribe, this gift is less about a conservation movement and more about the value of meaningful connections. “There is strength in partnership. We probably wouldn’t have even been aware of the potential of this project if not for our relationship with KLT,” Entz acknowledges.

The Kalispel Tribe’s interest in this special property goes beyond cultural and conservation value. This gift will help to support development of canoe access and an interpretive site on the Pack River. The general public will benefit from use of this site as well, which will provide safer access than the current pull-off at the Highway 200 bridge over the Pack River.

“When we look at a potential land acquisition, we look at it for its different values, like habitat and access. We don’t currently have this kind of access. Most access points are shared with a public boat launch, which isn’t ideal for putting in a canoe,” explains Entz.            

For The Idaho Club and William Haberman, the gift yields satisfying returns, knowing that the land will be valued and cared for forever. “We are pleased to have been presented the opportunity to donate a significant portion of The Idaho Club land holdings to the Kalispel Tribe with the professional guidance and encouragement of Kaniksu Land Trust,” says Haberman. What started as a collaboration with KLT, he adds, “resulted in what we believe will be a ‘best-case’ scenario for the property and critical habitat in and around the Pack River Delta.”

Find more stories about the Kalispel Tribe or the Kaniksu Land Trust in the OTO archives.

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By Mike Lithgow

Connection to the land is at the core of Kalispel culture. The Kalispel people historically occupied and utilized an area of 2.3 million acres located in Northeast Washington, North Idaho, and Northwest Montana. This land is an incredibly diverse place, and the Kalispel were able to thrive on the resources that this landscape produced.

In 1914, the Kalispel were forced from their larger aboriginal landscape and isolated onto their Reservation through an executive order signed by then-President Woodrow Wilson. This executive order created a roughly 4,700-acre reservation for the Kalispel along the Pend Oreille River near Cusick and Usk, Washington. Much of this acreage lies within an active floodplain or on the steep slopes of the Selkirk Range, not nearly enough land for the Tribe to continue to sustain itself.

Much of the aboriginal landscape of the Kalispel are public lands managed by state and federal agencies. The concept of active management of these lands is not new, as the Kalispel have been managing this terrain using fire since time immemorial. Fire is an important ecological tool, but today’s landscape necessitates the use of additional modern forestry techniques.

To increase the pace and scale of active management and restoration of this landscape, the Kalispel Tribe decided to take a seat at the table with the other land managers by proposing a Tribal Forest Protection Act project called the Sxwuytn-Kaniksu Connections or “Trail” Project.

Where exactly is the Sxwuytn (su-who-y-tin)-Kaniksu Connections or “Trail” Project? And why the name Sxwuytn?

First, the name is a Kalispel Salish word meaning “trail or connections.” The name perfectly fits the purpose and intent of this project, which is to connect all people within the surrounding communities to the management of their surrounding landscape. The project’s nickname is “Trail.”

Secondly, the Trail Project is located on the Colville National Forest’s (CNF) Newport-Sullivan Lake Ranger District in Northeast Washington’s Pend Oreille County north of Newport. The project area consists of five large watersheds covering approximately 90,700 acres and surrounds the Reservation and other lands owned and managed by the Kalispel.

The project area is bordered by the Pend Oreille River on the west, the Idaho Panhandle National Forest on the east, and stretches to the southern boundary of the Newport-Sullivan Lake Ranger District. The north border follows the Middle Creek watershed’s north boundary.

Why is the Kalispel Tribe involved?

Along with requesting action on U.S. Forest Service lands surrounding their Reservation and surrounding communities, the Kalispel Tribe has contributed extensively to the project in multiple ways. The Kalispel Tribe of Indians shares extensive natural resource knowledge of the area by providing key specialists to participate in the interdisciplinary NEPA planning team.

Through grants and significant tribal funding, the Tribe was able to fill gaps for the project in the form of outside specialists to help support the planning process.

Finally, the Tribe has provided a representative to the Project Leadership Team and used their invaluable community network to engage members of the public.

What specific types of actions will occur in this project area?

This project includes a diverse array of prescriptions to improve the overall health of the watersheds that fall within the project area. Prescribed fire, commercial and non-commercial thinning, wetland restoration, aquatic organism passage, road maintenance and improvements, and road decommissioning.

There is also a prioritized list of recreation projects to improve the overall recreation opportunities in the area. The project that ranked highest is the Bead Lake Loop non-motorized trail project. This trail will be built with assistance from the Washington Trails Association (WTA).

Holly Weiler from WTA has been integral in the development of the recreation portion of this planning document. Without public participation and the collaboration of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, United States Forest Service, and the Northeast Washington Forestry Coalition, a project of this size and scope would not be feasible.

Without this project, the landscape will fail to provide the safety, resources, and overall resiliency upon which tribal members and non-tribal communities depend.

To learn more about the Kalispel Tribe’s conservation efforts visit Knrd.org.

Find more news and recreation stories about the Kalispel Tribe or the Colville National Forest in the OTO archives.

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Developments include the Camas Center with its heated swimming pools with slides, 32-foot rock climbing wall, full-court gym, and fitness center that opened in 2008; a visitors’ center and rest area; and the Kalispel RV Resort in Cusick (opened in 2019) that has RV and tent sites for camping as well as furnished cottages for rent. For those who are interested in indoor gaming entertainment and dining, the relatively new Kalispel Casino is located next to the RV resort.

Now the tribe and Kalispel RV Resort are encouraging adventure tourism to the region to continue to build on an already growing tourism and outdoor recreation economy.

“Recreational tourism is an important piece of our rural economy,” explains Mike Lithgow with the Kalispel Tribe’s Natural Resource Department. Indian Creek Community Forest, he says, is a great place to learn about the tribe’s forest restoration and conservation education efforts and experience this beautiful corner of the state.

Some of the other recreational activities nearby the Kalispel RV Resort include the International Selkirk Loop, a 280-mile scenic back road byway that encircles the Selkirk Mountains, as well as dozens of hiking and mountain biking trails on Colville National Forest lands, including Bead Lake, Sullivan Lake, the Salmo Priest Wilderness, and many others.

With so many lakes and miles of Pend Oreille River access in the area, fishing and water sports are also a major draw. Anglers can cast lines for days in the Pend Oreille River and in dozens of nearby lakes, including Browns Lake, which is exclusively reserved for fly fishing.

The Pend Oreille River Water Trail, a 70-mile stretch of river between Oldtown, Idaho, and Boundary Dam offers excellent paddling on kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards, as well as bird and other wildlife viewing and historical and environmental points of interest to explore.            

If you are planning to camp at the Kalispel RV Resort and explore the area, call ahead (509.447.7144) to inquire about availability and amenities while some COVID restrictions may still be in place this spring and summer.

[All photos courtesy Kalispel Tribe of Indians.]

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As we drove east over multiple mountain ranges and the danger of running out of gas became real, we also traversed several important wildlife corridors, including the Cabinet-Purcell Mountain Corridor that delineates a zone of largely connected wildlife habitat between southeastern British Columbia and North Idaho and northwestern Montana. It’s one of the few places in the U.S. where a wide range of species from grizzly bears to elk can move across the international border through relatively intact habitat.  

Even though many of the wildlands we drove through have limited protection, the recent passage of the Great American Outdoors Act is proof that a majority of Americans care deeply about our public lands. While building on conservation successes of that scale are more important than ever, how we talk about the history of public lands and engage the indigenous people who called those lands home in future conservation initiatives is also crucial. 

Long before there were national forests or state parks, much of these lands were the traditional homelands of Native Americans, many of whom were violently removed. It’s an essential reality that needs to be acknowledged and addressed in public lands conservation efforts. Fittingly, many conservation successes in recent years have been initiated by tribes, restoring first nations people as critical stakeholders and public lands caretakers. Across the Northwest, tribes are designing, funding, and implementing programs that bring back wildlife and conserve their traditional lands and cultural heritage. 

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation are working to bring lynx back to their land and are leading efforts to reintroduce salmon into the Columbia River above Grand Coulee Dam. As discussed in this issue’s Nature column, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians are experimenting with innovative approaches to keeping cougars from harming pets and livestock. And many species of wildlife in eastern Oregon have more room to roam thanks to the Nez Perce Tribe’s purchase of thousands of acres of prime habitat.  

Other tribes are taking innovative legal approaches to protecting land and wildlife. One example that has gathered international attention is the Yurok Tribe’s declaration of the rights of personhood for the Klamath River. By assigning rights to a natural feature, the tribe hopes to create more opportunities for environmental protections and legal advocacy.  

By conserving habitat, tribes are ensuring their own cultural survival and the future of our public lands and the human communities that depend on them.

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Revett Lake Trail #9

Recommended by hiker and angler Heather Hodson

Location: Bitterroot Mountains in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest

Distance round-trip: 4 miles

Level of difficulty: Easy to intermediate (500 feet of elevation gain)

This popular, well-used trail is great for children, dogs, and novice hikers and backpackers. After hiking through a mix of forest and open talus, and a log-bridge crossing Cascade Creek, you arrive at this subalpine lake below Granite Peak (6,814 feet). Enjoy the Cascade Gulch waterfall, fishing, and camping at primitive sites. (Amy S. McCaffree)

Indian Creek Community Forest

Recommend by forest ecologist Adam Gebauer

Location: Indian Creek Community Forest, Kalispel Tribe, 9 miles north of Newport, Wash.

Distance round-trip: 1/2 mile

Level of difficulty: Easy

The Kalispel Tribe, along with local partners, are developing plans for the 400-acre Indian Creek Community Forest adjacent to the shores of the Pend Oreille River. Although not a super remote backcountry area, it is a great, wild place to explore for families and hikers of all abilities. This site is dedicated to education, research, and low impact recreation.

One of the first pieces of this project that is open to the public is a short trail system. This trail winds through mature mixed conifers with great views overlooking the Pend Oreille River. Interactive and interpretative signage will soon be installed that will include Salish names of plants and animals and information about forest ecology. There are plans for many educational activities at this site including recreational tree climbing, stargazing, nature skills, archery, and more.  (Adam Gebauer)

Stevens Lake

Recommended by backcountry hiker Kayla Haas

Location: Bitterroot Mountains near Mullan, Idaho

Distance round-trip: 4+ miles

Level of difficulty: Moderate to difficult depending on fitness level

Don’t be fooled by the relatively short mileage to Lower Stevens Lake; this hike gains 1,600 feet with an initial grade of 8 percent! After passing a waterfall, prepare for the final push across a boulder field to lower Stevens Lake.

After two miles of burning legs, many hikers don’t continue beyond lower Stevens. If you still have some gas in your tank, then keep heading up to upper Stevens; it’s worth it.

From the upper lake, enjoy solitude and stunning views of jagged peaks. If your legs and lungs are still feeling strong, then you can scramble up goat paths or cross-country and bag Stevens Peak, which is the highest peak in the western range of the Bitterroots. (Kayla Haas)

Blossom Lakes Trail (#404)

Recommended by hiker and angler Heather Hodson

Location: Lolo National Forest at the Idaho-Montana State Line

Distance round-trip: 6 miles (to lower Blossom Lake)

Level of difficulty: Intermediate to difficult (1,141 feet of elevation gain)

Beginning from the same trailhead as Revett Lake, the trail—which begins on the Idaho side of the state line—is bordered by occasional patches of huckleberry bushes. It begins easy but becomes more challenging as you hike from Idaho into Montana. You get to Prospect Creek and then arrive at lower Blossom Lake. There are primitive campsites on the northeast side. You can also hike further to visit Upper Blossom Lake and Pear Lake. (Amy S. McCaffree)

Kokanee Glacier Cabin

Recommended by backcountry hiker Kayla Haas

Location: Selkirk Mountains; Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, Nelson, British Columbia, Canada

Distance round-trip: Approximately 10.5 miles

Level of difficulty: Moderate

This trail meanders through an alpine wonderland. The trail gets the majority of the 1,300 feet of elevation gain and the only lackluster views out of the way within the first 1-2 miles. The trail and views begin to open up as you make your way across cascading waterfalls from the summer melt of Kokanee Glacier.

Take in 360-degree mountain views as you admire wildflowers and crystal clear streams in alpine meadows. Listen to songbirds as you rest on the edge of one of the many alpine lakes, but watch out for aggressive, food-conditioned marmots. Enjoy your lunch on the deck of the Kokanee Glacier Cabin located on the north side of Kaslo Lake.

This alpine “hut” is a multi-story cabin that sleeps 20 in the summer and is a popular winter destination for backcountry skiers. Live in backcountry luxury with a full kitchen, electricity, and flushing toilets. You can extend your stay by reserving a bunk in the cabin or pitching a tent in the nearby Kaslo Lake campground.

Also, like many Provincial Parks in Canada, dogs are not allowed. Even if you’re only hiking for the day, make sure to use the chicken wire available at the trailhead as the resident porcupines love to gnaw on brake lines. (Kayla Haas)

[Feature photo: On the rail to Kokanee Glacier Cabin. // Kayla Haas]

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