Tupper, First Native Woman Nominated for State Office

First Native Woman Nominated for State Office in Klamath or Lake County: Taylor Tupper

Taylor Tupper, a member of the Klamath Tribes of Oregon, will be the Democratic Party’s candidate for Oregon House District 56, comprising the southern portion of Klamath and Lake Counties--including Klamath Falls, Merrill, Malin, Keno, and Lakeview, Oregon.

After solidifying last night's [Tuesday, May 15,2018] primary, she and her team will launch the next phase of her campaign as they head to the general election in November.

Tupper says, “Waq'li'si dic wytas (Hello and good day), I'm both pleased and honored to be the candidate moving to the general election in November. As my team and I gear up for the next phase, we recognize what an opportunity this presents, not just for myself as a native woman, but what it could mean regarding cultural diversity in the House at the state level. With all that is happening across the nation, I believe there has never been a better time for women like myself, living in rural communities, to step up and let our voices be heard. After the proposed Pacific Connector Pipeline was rejected twice, I thought I would be able to gear down and relax--but this destructive evil beast once again popped its ugly head up in my homelands, so here I am. I cannot be quiet- my ancestors won't let me. We are in a time of Ho Winna - (A Time of Change) and it must be a change that will protect our future generations."

Tupper’s tribal name is Lamina Wac – Thunder Horse. She is a direct descendant of some of the most powerful leaders in Modoc Indian history, as well as of Quechan, Czechoslovakian, Austrian, and German descent. She is proud to be part of a wave of more than 100 Native candidates running for office in the 2018 midterm. Now, for the general election, taking her case to the people in Klamath and Lake counties.

Despite the region’s proud native history, a member of the Klamath Tribes has never before run for office on a major party ticket.

Tupper has served as the Public Relations/News Department Manager for the Klamath Tribes for 26 years and also owns a small business. She has experience as a wildland firefighter, chainsaw crew member, and at one time was a Certified Timber Cruiser for the Fremont-Winema National Forest at the Chiloquin Ranger District. Other experience includes being a former elected member of the Klamath Tribal Council, and extensive training in the fields of tourism and advocacy for ecosystem restoration.

She is running on a platform of economic development coupled with environmental protection, and hopes to represent the many voices of District 56 during what will be a time of change for the district. Dams on the Klamath River are slated to come down in 2021, finally clearing the way for salmon to begin their return to Upper Lake Klamath, and other water ways- for the first time in over 100 years. Once elected, she will continue to work towards lake and river restoration efforts, advocate for better over-all water management, and promote new job-creating industries for the region, including tourism, ecological restoration, and renewable energy, while simultaneously having a sense of respect and deep rooted-knowledge of the district’s agricultural, timber, and ranching heritage.

Tupper knows and understands that water has been, and will continue to be an issue in this basin. But she sees both sides of the issue, having been raised on a large ranch in the Sprague River valley, and having also worked with the Tribes as a former elected member of the Tribe’s water team. No other candidate in the district can offer this unique historical knowledge of both sides of the spectrum.

Tupper says, “I know that things that are worth fighting for don’t come easy. But the people who live here in the Klamath Basin, like myself, are strong, smart, funny, resilient, dynamic--and worth fighting for. I will not make promises, because in my experience when a politician makes a promise, it will most likely be broken. And unfortunately, my people know that broken promises simply mean the next generation will have to suffer and pick up the pieces.”

She adds, “But I will never give up on this place we all call home – this to me is God’s country- and I truly know-- ‘dola nat wennitk shutat’ - (Together we can make a difference).”

More information on Democrat Party Candidate, Taylor Tupper visit, www.Tupper4Oregon.com, Facebook page: Taylor Tupper 4 Oregon, Twitter: @Tupper4Oregon

Press release provided from Taylor Tupper.