Chairman of the Chinook Indian Nation Tony Johnson checks out one of the many empty rooms at the Naselle Youth Camp.

NASELLE — After seven months of exploring options, the Naselle Youth Camp Task Force has formally decided to recommend the property go to the Chinook Indian Nation.

It’s nearing two years since the facility closed on Sept. 25, 2022, after the state legislature gutted its funding and directed it to shut down.

Pull Quote

‘Chinook believes this vote is one for the history books. Our descendants will look back at this moment of trust and support by our local community as generation changing. That support is wholly appreciated by Chinook.’

Tony Johnson, chairman of the Chinook Indian Nation

The task force has been meeting regularly since September 2023, following a directive from the legislature to convene a committee to make a formal recommendation. The committee is comprised of state and local officials and local stakeholders.

A vote was expected on March 21, but the meeting ran long and not enough members remained for a quorum. The committee held a quick meeting on April 25 and overwhelmingly voted to recommend the property and facilities be handed over to the tribe.

Big vote for tribe

Not many options were tossed out for the property, and the only complete plan for its use was submitted by the Chinook — which envisions a revamped site that would include health care, substance use and mental health services, housing, cultural gatherings, an events venue, and a partnership with the Naselle community.

“The vote yesterday was of the NYC Task Force Members,” Chinook Chairman Tony Johnson said. “The task force was created by a budget proviso by Sen. Jeff Wilson [R-Longview]. The task force is made up of a variety of local representatives and staff/leadership from a number of state agencies.

“Chinook believes this vote is one for the history books. Our descendants will look back at this moment of trust and support by our local community as generation-changing,” he added. “That support is wholly appreciated by Chinook. We are also grateful for the community members and allies who came together to support our use plans for the facility.”

Wastewater option

Pacific County Commissioner Lisa Olsen is one of the officials on the task force. She has been nothing short of thrilled that a local entity came forward with a plan that would benefit the local communities, including a wastewater option.

“They are also completely on board with trying to get the wastewater treatment facility up and running again,” Olsen said. “They are open to the fact for us to be able use it as a dump site so all of our septage from the peninsula doesn’t have to go to Centralia. That was a huge thing for me.”

“They would also like to get the hatchery functional again, which is on the property. They want to revitalize a lot of the good things that are already there as well as make it their home campus,” Olsen said.

Other ideas

The committee was also presented with the idea of turning the property and facilities into another youth center for at-risk youth between the ages of 16 and 18. Washington Youth ChalleNGe Academy presented the concept of a voluntary program, similar to Job Corps, but geared toward military-like discipline.

The Pacific County Sheriff’s Office also offered an option but didn’t submit a formal plan. Undersheriff Mike Ray suggested turning the facility into another basic law enforcement training academy due to the low number of academies available in the state and the high demand for training statewide.

Former sheriff Robin Souvenir eyed the facility toward the end of his tenure as sheriff as an option for a new jail. The plan involved offering more cells and contracting with the Washington State Department of Corrections to hold some of its inmates.

The committee will formalize the recommendation this week, and members will have a few more weeks to make last-minute changes before being sent off. The timeline for a formal decision by the state and Gov. Jay Inslee is yet to be determined.

Tribal priority since 1854

“In 1854, the U.S. government asked what we wanted in exchange for all of our lands — we said the nisal — the Naselle area,” Johnson said. “That didn’t happen, but our lands were taken anyway. We see the opportunity to acquire these lands and build a new home base for our community as an important step in the right direction from those times.

“The property will be a cultural and economic engine for Chinook and the surrounding community. We are committed to being the best neighbors possible and will propose a number of projects and agreements for the benefit of everyone in the region,” he added.

The Chinook continue the legal battle for federal recognition, and it’s unclear if a lack of state or federal recognition could affect the decision for the NYC. Most state officials on the task force, including the governor’s office, abstained from the vote, with the lone agency opting to vote being the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.

“I just thought that was really odd,” Olsen said. “There was certainly no resistance from the state agencies whatsoever. I don’t know if they’ve got some sort of other thing, and they are just going to pull the rug out.”