Tribal member now on state outdoor recreation board

The Colville Tribes now have a member on Washington state's Recreation and Conservation Funding Board, which awards about $250 million in grants every two years.

Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Okanogan resident Henry Hix, who is the chief of natural resource enforcement for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, a Jan. 23 press release from the state's Recreation and Conservation Office states.

Hix "previously managed the Tribes' Parks and Recreation Program and served in the Tribes' Fish and Wildlife Department," the release says. "He has a bachelor degree in recreation from Eastern Washington University and loves to take his wife and kids hiking, fishing and hunting. He has spent his entire life in north central Washington."

"I feel fortunate and ecstatic to be a part of the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board which helps finance recreation and conservation projects throughout the state," Hix told The Star in an email. "I love the outdoors and all that it has to offer."

Hix said he grew up in eastern Washington and hopes to see more projects funded in the eastern part of the state, " where people can positively get out and enjoy what we have."

Last year, the Colville Tribes was asking municipalities on the reservation to sign off on a reservation-wide parks plan they said would help develop local and tribal parks. Such inter-agency cooperation is often a plus when applying for state grants.

Wenatchee resident Shiloh Burgess, who is the executive director of the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce, was also newly appointed to the funding board.

Grant money from the RCO is awarded "for the development of parks, trails, boating facilities and other outdoor recreation opportunities and for the conservation of wildlife habitat and working farms and forests," the release explains.

"Washington has an abundance of great outdoor places, and many people are passionate about ensuring those places are cared for and available for future generations to enjoy," Inslee said. "These talented leaders will do a great job of helping select where the state should invest its resources to improve outdoor recreation and conserve the best parts of our natural heritage. I look forward to their contributions."