Tribal Leadership Spotlights

Willamette Falls is a place that represents Tribal leadership and tells a variety of different Tribes’ stories. In honor of Native American Heritage Month, the Trust has dedicated spotlights to each of our Tribal Leadership Representatives, illustrating the array of diverse backgrounds anchored to this special place.

Robert Kentta

Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians

Robert Kentta serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of Willamette Falls Trust. Widely regarded for his vast knowledge of cultural history in the region and his diplomatic leadership, Kentta served as the Cultural Resources Director for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians for 29 years, and served on Siletz Tribal Council for 18 years. He actively supports Siletz languages, ceremonial and cultural events, cultural and sacred site protection, archeological and archival research, history, and cultural education.

Kentta is a traditional artist who specializes in regalia and basket weaving and mentors Tribal members interested in continuing these traditions and cultural continuity of the Tribe. He grew up in his Tribal community of Siletz, Oregon and attended the Institute of American Indians Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Making Ceremonial Regalia

Jim Manion

Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs

Jim is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs (“Warm Springs”) and currently serves on the 29th Tribal Council. Jim also serves as his Tribe’s Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commissioner.

As a tribal member of Wasco descent that grew up on the Warm Springs Reservation, knowledge of traditional tribal culture mixed with contemporary business management skills gives Jim a unique vision for our Willamette Falls Inter-Tribal Public Access Project, where he holds experience in harmonizing projects involving economic development, natural resource utilization, while tying both to cultural preservation.

Jim’s connection to Willamette Falls is rooted in his family and own experiences with fishing and gathering of eels and sacred first foods at the Falls. He recalls stories he was told of his great Grandfather, Jerry Brunoe, harvesting at the Falls and its tributaries; this is where he learned the Falls “is a place we have gathered for harvesting and visiting with other tribes around the region, who also shared the resource to provide sustenance for all people, since time immemorial.”

Jim recently retired after serving his tribe for 41 years as the General Manager of the Tribe’s Power & Water Enterprise, where he managed the operation of the Tribe’s interest in the Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric Project. Jim was responsible for oversight on energy development activity on the Tribal land base.

Toby Patrick

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Toby Patrick is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (“Umatilla”) and serves on Umatilla’s governing Board of Trustees. Toby previously served 28 years working with Umatilla’s Cultural Resources Department, and currently takes part in the Umatilla Cultural Resource Committee.

In the community, Toby stands as a longhouse leader and a dedicated culture keeper, with a profound connection to Willamette Falls that spans countless generations within his family. Toby vividly recalls his initial journey to fish for the k’suyas, the eel, during his youth, emphasizing the significance of bonding with traditional fishing sites and engaging with other Native families from various Tribes in the region (*). Toby firmly upholds the responsibility of safeguarding these places and the fish relatives, emphasizing their importance for the well-being of the natítayt, or all Indigenous people.  

Bringing these valuable perspectives to the Board of Directors, Toby collaborates with fellow Tribal Leaders to lead initiatives aimed at enhancing the Falls and its interconnected communities.

*Note: Happy Canyon princesses Latis Nowland, left, and Susie Blackwolf Patrick (Toby’s Daughter), right, at Willamette Falls where Pacific lamprey were being harvested.

Yakama Nation Willamette Falls Lamprey Celebration, July 13, 2023 (Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian)

Davis Washines

Confederated Tribes and Bands of Yakama Nation

Davis Washines, known throughout Indian Country as Yellowash, is an accomplished public service advocate, a recognized traditional and spiritual icon, and a former Yakama language instructor in many local schools. He also carries the Oglala Lakota identity of Yelo-Was'te, bestowed on him by a Lakota Elder at the Crazy Horse School, Pine Ridge, SD, in 1995.

Launching his public service career in 1973 with the Yakama Tribal Police Department, he advanced through the ranks to serve as Yakama’s Chief of Police in 1986—a role he held until 1996. Following his service on the Yakama Police force, Yellowash served on the Yakama Nation Tribal Council while at the same time representing the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians as 2nd Vice-President. He then went on to work as a middle school counselor. In 2005, Yellowash was once again appointed Yakama Nation Chief of Police, serving until 2008. One of his proudest achievements is when, as Yakama Nation Police Chief, he led the successful effort to restore the original spelling of “Yakama” to the Yakama Nation—as recorded in the U.S. Yakama Treaty of 1855.

In 2010, Yellowash was named Chief of Enforcement for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. The commission consists of the following Columbia River Treaty Tribes: Yakama, Warm Springs, Umatilla and Nez Perce.  Yellowash retired from law enforcement in August 2013 and was elected Yakama Nation General Council Chairman in December 2014.

Today, Yellowash continues his work throughout the region. Yellowash serves on: the University of Washington Burke Museum’s Native American Advisory Board as Executive Committee Vice-Chairman; the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences Board of Directors; the OMSI Center for Tribal Nations Advisory Council; the Yakima Valley Museum Board of Directors; the Yakama Nation’s Athletic Commission; the Government Relations Liaison for the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation’s Department of Natural Resources under the Fisheries Resources Management’s Superfund Projects; and, of course, the Willamette Falls Trust Board of Directors.