[env-trinity] Troy Fletcher, Yurok Tribe's Visionary Leader, Passes Away

[Dan Bacher]

Troy Fletcher, Yurok Tribe's Visionary Leader, Passes Away


Troy Fletcher, a visionary leader of the Yurok Tribe, passed away of a  
heart attack on Friday night, November 20.

I first met Troy nearly 20 years ago at a Fish and Game Commission  
hearing when he was the director of the Yurok Fisheries Program. From  
that first time I talked to Troy, I watched him play the key  
leadership role in building bridges between the Tribe and commercial  
fishermen, recreational anglers, environmentalists, farmers, other  
tribes and federal and state government officials who were often in  
conflict with one another.

Troy, who became the Executive Director of the Tribe, was one of the  
rare people who could truly see the "big picture" of fishery and  
environmental restoration - and what was necessary to restore the  
Klamath Basin and Pacific fisheries.

He told me several times at protests and meetings, "Fishermen will  
always fight over the fish. Our goal is to see that there are more  
fish that we can fight over."

He also talked to me a number of times about his vision of the way to  
accomplish restoration of the Klamath and other fisheries - by forming  
"blue collar" task forces rather than the "Blue Ribbon Task Forces"  
dominated by corporate interests and political appointees that oversaw  
the MLPA Initiative, BDCP and other environmental processes. Troy said  
these blue collar panels would be comprised only of those whose hands  
"touch the water" - farmers, recreational anglers, commercial  
fishermen and tribal gatherers and fishermen.

Troy, along with Ron Reed of the Karuk Tribe, spoke at rallies and  
meetings in solidarity with recreational anglers and commercial  
fishermen fighting to bring back salmon on the Klamath, Sacramento and  
other watersheds - and fighting to defend their fishing rights.

While Troy was a bridge builder, he also stood firm when the Tribe's  
sovereign rights were being infringed upon by a state or federal  
government agency. For example, at the Legislature's Fisheries Forum  
in 2010, he warned the legislators that Yurok Tribe members were  
willing to engage in civil disobedience if their traditional fishing  
and gathering rights were violated under the Marine Life Protection  
Act Initiative.

My condolences go to the Yurok Tribe, Troy Fletcher's family, and  
everybody whose life Troy touched.

Dan Bacher

Below is the press release from the Yurok Tribe:
http://www.yuroktribe.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Matt Mais
(707) 482-1350

Yurok Tribe Mourns the Loss of Visionary Leader

It is with deep despair and a heavy heart that we announce the  
untimely passing of Tribal luminary, Troy Fletcher.

“This is a tragic loss for the Yurok people, so tragic that words  
cannot express how we feel,” said Thomas P. O’Rourke Sr., Chairman of  
the Yurok Tribe. “Troy accomplished things that many people thought  
were impossible. We will forever be grateful for Troy’s tremendous  
contribution to the Tribe. Our thoughts and prayers are with his  
family.”

“We are all devastated by the passing of our friend, brother and  
colleague,” added Susan Masten, the Yurok Tribe’s Vice Chair. “Troy  
dedicated his life and put his heart and soul into his effort to  
protect and restore the Klamath River. He will be greatly missed by  
all.”

Fletcher, a longtime Executive Director for the Yurok Tribe, passed  
away on Friday evening, after suffering from a heart attack. He  
started his career with the Yurok Tribe as the first Tribal fisheries  
manager in 1994.
The Yurok Tribal member and visionary leader ran the day-to-day  
operations of the Tribal government. He played a prominent part in  
nearly every important Tribal policy decision, land acquisition,  
litigation and legislative effort in the last 20 years.

Fletcher, a tenacious Tribal advocate, accumulated a long list of  
history-making accomplishments, such as sowing the seeds that started  
the Tribe’s natural resource protection programs, during his time  
working for the Tribe. While the truly humble human being would never  
take the credit, Fletcher was responsible for ending a generations- 
long conflict between many competing Klamath River-based interests,  
including: farmers, commercial fishers, a power company, environmental  
groups and other Tribes.

Turning this group of fierce, former adversaries into a cooperative  
coalition, focused on removing four Klamath dams and creating a plan  
for equitable water use was just one the many achievements in his  
storied career.

“Troy’s integrity and innate leadership skills made him a magnet to  
all,” said Dave Hillemeier, the Yurok Fisheries Program Manager. “We  
have lost a beloved friend, father, son, husband, mentor, leader, boss  
and a person respected by those from all walks of life.”

The benevolent boss instilled many positive principles into his  
employees and empowered them to achieve greatness. He valued  
initiative and preparedness. Fletcher treated all of the staff fairly  
and with respect. He emphasized the importance of developing  
meaningful relationships with representatives of outside agencies.

In Fletcher’s opinion, the Tribe had a right and an obligation to  
manage all of the lands within Yurok ancestral territory and places  
that affect the Tribe, such as upriver from its borders. He saw those  
who opposed him as an opportunity to build a bridge. Before making any  
decisions involving natural resources, he first asked, “Does this work  
for fish?”

The leading figure in the campaign to solve the Klamath water crisis  
also filled an irreplaceable role in the Tribe’s effort to reacquire  
substantial swaths of land within Yurok territory. His behind-the- 
scenes work paved the way for the Tribe to procure more than 35,000  
acres in the Pecwan and Blue Creek watersheds. Both of these  
drainages, located in the Tribe’s traditional territory, are  
culturally invaluable and incredibly important for fish and wildlife  
populations.

In 1999 Fletcher transitioned to the Executive Director position. As  
the Fisheries Manager and then as Executive Director, he established  
the Tribe’s, award-winning Watershed Restoration and Environmental  
Programs and expanded the Fisheries Program. Today, these programs  
have more 70 staff that are committed to improving environmental  
conditions in Yurok ancestral territory.

The universally respected administrator managed more than a dozen  
departments and 300-plus personnel. Most recently, Fletcher was  
shepherding a strategy to spur the United States Congress into  
creating legislation that would broaden the Reservation’s boundaries  
to include the recent land purchases and increase the Tribe’s role in  
managing the lands within Yurok ancestral territory. He was also  
working with representatives of the federal government to release the  
remaining elements of the Hoopa/Yurok Settlement Act.

The distinguished director worked his way from a fisheries technician  
to overseeing the fast-growing Tribal government. On behalf of the  
Yurok people, Fletcher testified before Congress, presented to  
numerous state and federal regulatory committees and travelled to  
Washington DC many times to advocate for Tribal rights and to improve  
conditions on the Klamath River.

Fletcher was raised in Pecwan, which is where he spawned a life-long  
connection to the Klamath River. He committed his entire adult life to  
restoring the river, preserving Tribal culture and returning the Tribe  
to its rightful role in Yurok Country. He leaves behind his parents,  
Jacqueline and Don Winter, his sons Troy Fletcher Jr., Cody and  
Zachary, grandchildren Cody Jr. and Raa-yoy, as well as his wife Kari.

Services will be held on Saturday, Nov., 28 at 10 a.m. at the Yurok  
Tribal office in Klamath. The family asks that in lieu of flowers  
donations be made to the Aawok Troy Fletcher Memorial Fund, through
the Humboldt Area Foundation. HAF’s address is 373 Indianola Rd.,  
Bayside Ca 95524. There will be an opportunity to make a donation at  
the Saturday service.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://www2.dcn.org/pipermail/env-trinity/attachments/20151124/ff833e28/attachment.html>