• Coastal Lands
  • Estuaries
  • Marine Conservation
  • Youth Education

There is a situation unfolding in Curry County that exemplifies the systemic barriers Native groups continue to face today: silenced in public process, pushed aside in favor of developers, and removed (again) from their ancestral lands.  An acute example of colonialism, all to make way for concrete landings, generator noise, and fleeting seasonal profit— an RV park. 

The Northwest American Indian Coalition (NAIC), a native-led nonprofit, was gearing up to buy back a piece of ancestral homelands on the banks of the Rogue River in Gold Beach. This site would be the home of the Tututni Estuary Ecocultural Restoration (TEER) Project and an Intertribal Cultural Center. This culturally significant site could be a place of healing and restoration— not only of the native people who were forcibly removed here, but of the land and water here too. A space where the restoration and resilience of the environment goes hand in hand with the restoration and resilience of communities of the past, present, and future– indigenous and otherwise. 

TEER Project and Intertribal Cultural Center would offer a living space for indigenous community gathering, environmental restoration, cultural and ecological education— a place where native people can reestablish presence and care for the land and water. It would also welcome tourists and locals year-round for educational and cultural opportunities as well as non-motorized public river access.

NAIC has been working to reclaim this land at Wedderburn Loop for years through fundraising and planning of the future site. However, a non-local developer has submitted plans for a multi-unit space commercial RV park.

Curry County granted approval for the RV park by issuing a conditional use permit, which typically allows certain types of development under specific conditions. This particular piece of land is zoned exclusively for water-dependent uses because it is within the Rogue River estuary. Water-dependent uses generally include activities that require direct access to the water, such as docks, marinas, or fisheries. An RV park does not meet this definition by any standard, yet the County approved this permit anyway. 

When NAIC appealed the county’s decision to approve the RV park, the Board declined to hear the case, citing that the organization lacked standing, despite many communications of interest to the landowners, adjacent landowners, and the Board of Commissioners. The hearing was closed without giving NAIC a voice, yet another attempt to silence local native voices and community opposition.

However, NAIC remains unwavering in their vision for this project and they could use your voice. There is a Board of Commissioners meeting on September 24th to re-evaluate NAIC’s standing to take further action and review the details of the RV park permit for hopeful revocation. 

3 Steps to Take Action

Take Action!

1. Learn more! Read more about this on the Northwest American Indian Coalition’s Tututni Estuary Eco-Cultural Restoration webpage and donate if you are able.    

2. Submit Written Comment! Write in comments advocating for NAIC to have a hearing below. Comments are due by Tuesday, September 23rd Use this link to borrow pre-written text from the project webpage or create your own. Write to the Curry County Commissioners and tell them why NAIC should have a seat at the table, why the RV park permit should be revoked, and how the Tututni Estuary Eco-Cultural Restoration Project would benefit the Southern Oregon Coast. 

3. Provide Oral Testimony! Show up to the Wednesday, September 24th hearing at 11am and speak out in support of NAIC’s right to be heard. Urge the Commissioners to revoke the RV park permit, uphold proper land-use laws, and explain how Tututni Estuary Eco-Cultural Restoration Project would benefit your community.

    •  Address here: 94235 Moore Street, Gold Beach, Oregon
    • Unfortunately, the County did not offer an option to participate virtually

Thank you for taking action. If you have any questions, comments, or need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Mandy at [email protected]