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Day two of David Pecker testimony wraps in NY Trump trial; Supreme Court hears arguments on Idaho's near-total abortion ban; ND sees a flurry of campaigning among Native candidates; and NH lags behind other states in restricting firearms at polling sites.

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The Senate moves forward with a foreign aid package. A North Carolina judge overturns an aged law penalizing released felons. And child protection groups call a Texas immigration policy traumatic for kids.

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Wyoming needs more educators who can teach kids trade skills, a proposal to open 40-thousand acres of an Ohio forest to fracking has environmental advocates alarmed and rural communities lure bicyclists with state-of-the-art bike trail systems.

OR Nez Perce Lands Featured in National Geographic

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Thursday, August 5, 2010   

JOSEPH, Ore. - The August issue of National Geographic magazine features northeastern Oregon as part of an article on native lands being restored by the tribes that own them. In Wallowa County, the Precious Lands consist of more than 16,000 acres given back to the Nez Perce by the U.S. government, more than 100 years after their ancestors were forced to leave it. Today, the tribe is rooting out invasive species and replanting native grasses.

Joe McCormack, president of the Wallowa County Nez Perce Band, says the land has become "precious" to more than just the Native American community.

"It's open to the public - we haven't closed anybody out. Hunters can come on and the tribal people can also come on. And they maintain our treaty rights on the Precious Land, although it's deeded land to the tribe, there's been some changes for that particular piece."

McCormack says the communities in Wallowa County have been very supportive of its efforts, and in return, the tribe does its part for the local economy. The county and Nez Perce work jointly on salmon restoration, and the tribe has a Fisheries and Resource Management office in Joseph, he adds.

"You have about 15 full-time employees and several other seasonals who work up here and bring in over $2 million annual budget to the county. We've got a pretty good footprint here."

Many consider the Precious Lands acreage its own ecosystem, from desert canyons to forested mountains. In another part of the county, the Nez Perce also have purchased more than 300 acres for a tribal Homeland Project. It includes an interpretive center and picnic grounds for the annual community feast hosted by the tribe in July. This summer, a longhouse is being constructed on the Homeland property.




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