Forest agencies seek tribal inclusion in policymaking; Indigenous leaders are holding them accountable

During an early February morning, nearly two dozen people found their chairs in a conference room at the University of Oregon, settling to hash out the future of Northwest forests. The 21 members of the Northwest Forest Plan advisory committee are foresters, political leaders, tribal members and lawyers, all with decades of experience in working with the government — except one.

Seated inconspicuously off to one side was 23-year-old Ryan Reed, wearing a gray-collared shirt and a long braid. Reed is a grad student, a wildland firefighter, and a member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe in Northern California. Despite his young age, it’s clear other committee members look up to him as a leader. When he speaks, the room gets quiet, and everyone listens.