BEND, OR -- Bend City Councilors have approved a special agreement between the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the city. The goal is to coordinate on matters of common interest, like use of water resources from the Deschutes Basin, land use, protection of cultural resources and sustainable economic development.

City Manager Eric King says plans for future joint meetings are already in the works, "We are tentatively planning a date in June for the City Council to go to Warm Springs and participate in an abbreviated harmony workshop, as well as some tours and maybe some food, and potentially some other activities." 

The Memorandum of Understanding is the first of its kind for the Warm Springs Tribal Council. But Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler says it probably won’t be the last, "This is historic for us, but I think there are many other governments that are on the ceded lands of the tribes that could maybe take this as an example of how to work together and try to build that relationship."

Kebler also read a statement from Tribal Council Chairman Jonathan Smith, "He said, ‘As the original stewards of this land, we know that caring for and preserving our shared natural resources requires strong partnerships with other governments. We see this MOU with the city of Bend as the first formal step in forging an important partnership, and as an example that we’d like to replicate with other governments in the region.'"