Tribes closer to owning lighthouse
By Jessica Musicar, Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 |
If all goes well this week, the Confederated Tribes finally will have their lighthouse.
Legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio intended to transfer ownership of the Cape Arago Lighthouse, passed the House of Representatives on Monday by voice vote. The Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians also will gain ownership of Chief’s Island, a culturally important site for the tribes.
“This bill transfers to the Confederated Tribes a piece of land which has significant cultural, historic, and spiritual importance,” the Democrat said in a press release. “The Coast Guard no longer needs the Cape Arago Lighthouse for navigation purposes and this will put an historic piece of land to good use while protecting and preserving its cultural significance.”
The Lighthouse was built in 1934 and is located near Charleston on Chief’s Island. In the past, the Coast Guard has permitted the Confederated Tribes to use the site for tribal ceremonies and as a cemetery. It is closed to the public. The Tribes have sought ownership since 1991 to restore and preserve the site. However, the U.S. Department of the Interior maintains that the tribes do not qualify to assume ownership under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act.
A spokeswoman for DeFazio’s Washington D.C. office said the legislation still has to win approval from the Senate. There is companion legislation, but the House version is expected to pass this week.
Should President Bush sign it into law, the property would be transferred from the U.S. Coast Guard to U.S. Department of the Interior, which would hold it in trust for the tribes.
Confederated Tribes Chairman Bob Garcia said he is hopeful the bill will progress. He thanked DeFazio for his work in pushing this legislation through the house.
“We’re hopeful that it’s going to get final approval in the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and we’ll be ready for the Senate floor shortly thereafter,” Garcia said. “I’m cautiously optimistic that this culturally significant land will once again be returned to our tribe.”
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