The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the City of Bend held their annual joint government-to-government meeting on June 30, bringing together the Tribal Council and the Bend City Council to address shared concerns about water, land use, and the future of Central Oregon.
The meeting is part of an ongoing collaboration formalized in April 2024, when the two governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding — the first agreement of its kind between the Tribe and a Central Oregon city. The MOU established a rotating annual meeting schedule to discuss matters of common interest and has since been cited as a model for Indigenous-municipal relations in the region.
Key Topics at the June 30 Meeting
Deschutes Basin Water Resources
The two governments received a briefing on water conservation in the Deschutes Basin, with particular attention to strategies for mitigating groundwater overuse. Water management is a longstanding priority for the Confederated Tribes, whose ancestral connection to the rivers and fisheries of the region predates Oregon statehood. As Bend continues to grow, groundwater demands have increased significantly, making tribal-city cooperation on conservation increasingly important.
Bend's 20-Year Growth Plan
The City of Bend presented an update on its long-range growth plan — an effort to plan land use, infrastructure, and community development over the next two decades. Tribal representatives had the opportunity to provide input on how the region's expansion could affect culturally significant lands, water resources, and tribal members who live and work in the Bend area.
Public Art and Cultural Representation
The joint meeting also included a discussion of the tribal art program, including planned replacement of artwork at the Highway 20 and Cooley Road roundabout — an intersection that has served as a public space for honoring the Tribes' cultural heritage.
Both Sides Stress Action Over Words
Edward R. Henderson, Secretary-Treasurer and CEO of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, offered measured but pointed words about the significance of the meeting.
"Both councils have new people at the table, and new relationships need to be built and old ones strengthened now. That is why this meeting mattered. But meetings are not the goal. We have sat at many tables over the years. What matters is what happens after we leave them. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs will measure this relationship by what is done, not by what is said."
Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler echoed the collaborative spirit. "Together we face challenges and opportunities that are best addressed by working collaboratively. I'm grateful for this opportunity to listen, learn and continue building a strong relationship that benefits all of our communities," she said.
Why It Matters for Jefferson County
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation covers more than 640,000 acres stretching from the Cascades to the Deschutes River canyon — land that borders and intersects with Jefferson County. Water issues discussed at the Bend meeting, including groundwater management in the Deschutes Basin, directly affect agricultural users and ranchers throughout the Jefferson County area. The partnership between Bend and Warm Springs signals a broader regional shift toward government-to-government dialogue on issues that touch every community in Central Oregon.