Presentation Abstract
Kukutali Preserve (Kukutali) is a unit of Deception Pass State Park and located within the Swinomish Indian Reservation near LaConner, Washington, as established by treaty in 1855. The upland area included in Kukutali was sold out of tribal ownership in 1928 and spent most of the next 82 years in private title with minimal development; as a result, Kukutali contains examples of rare, pristine habitat. Parks had long been interested in acquiring the property to preserve, and provide public recreational access to, its diverse ecosystems. SITC also had a long-standing wish to reacquire the property and restore access to its cultural and natural resources for Tribal citizens. In 2010, Parks and SITC entered into a historic co-management agreement to jointly acquire Kiket Island and an adjacent nine acre parcel on Fidalgo Island. SITC and Parks agreed to work in partnership to develop, operate, and maintain the islands and associated tidelands as a unit of Deception Pass State Park with the stipulation that the lands remain available for “limited public access consistent with protection of the resources and ecology of Kiket Island.” Parks and SITC co-own the upland portion of Kukutali, with SITC retaining sole ownership of the adjacent tidelands, and co-manage Kukutali via a board composed of three SITC representatives and three Parks representatives using consensus decision making. Kukutali is managed with two main goals: to protect the unique ecosystems and enhance the biodiversity on and around Kiket Island, and to provide the general public with an opportunity to learn about the natural ecosystems and take a part in the stewardship of these lands. A conservation management and restoration plan, developed by SITC and approved by the management board, provides guidance in this effort. Maintenance and operational costs are shared equally by the co-owners.
Session Title
Panel: Towards Resilience Through a Socio-Ecological Paradigm
Keywords
Park, Co-management, Kukutali, Restoration
Conference Track
SSE8: Policy, Management, and Regulations
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE8-420
Start Date
4-4-2018 3:30 PM
End Date
4-4-2018 3:00 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Acquisition of property--Washington (State)--Deception Pass State Park; Conservation of natural resources--Washington (State)--Deception Pass State Park
Subjects – Names (LCNAF)
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
Geographic Coverage
Deception Pass State Park (Wash.); Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Kukutali Preserve: co-managing the first tribal-state park in Washington
Kukutali Preserve (Kukutali) is a unit of Deception Pass State Park and located within the Swinomish Indian Reservation near LaConner, Washington, as established by treaty in 1855. The upland area included in Kukutali was sold out of tribal ownership in 1928 and spent most of the next 82 years in private title with minimal development; as a result, Kukutali contains examples of rare, pristine habitat. Parks had long been interested in acquiring the property to preserve, and provide public recreational access to, its diverse ecosystems. SITC also had a long-standing wish to reacquire the property and restore access to its cultural and natural resources for Tribal citizens. In 2010, Parks and SITC entered into a historic co-management agreement to jointly acquire Kiket Island and an adjacent nine acre parcel on Fidalgo Island. SITC and Parks agreed to work in partnership to develop, operate, and maintain the islands and associated tidelands as a unit of Deception Pass State Park with the stipulation that the lands remain available for “limited public access consistent with protection of the resources and ecology of Kiket Island.” Parks and SITC co-own the upland portion of Kukutali, with SITC retaining sole ownership of the adjacent tidelands, and co-manage Kukutali via a board composed of three SITC representatives and three Parks representatives using consensus decision making. Kukutali is managed with two main goals: to protect the unique ecosystems and enhance the biodiversity on and around Kiket Island, and to provide the general public with an opportunity to learn about the natural ecosystems and take a part in the stewardship of these lands. A conservation management and restoration plan, developed by SITC and approved by the management board, provides guidance in this effort. Maintenance and operational costs are shared equally by the co-owners.
