It is with great sadness that we note the passing of Chief Delvis Heath. Delvis Heath Sr. served as the hereditary Chief of the Warm Springs people since 1984.

The Land Trust was honored to have Chief Heath attend a ceremony in 2007 when the first young steelhead were reintroduced to Whychus Creek at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve. On that momentous day, Chief Heath provided a blessing and shared the cultural importance of returning salmon and steelhead to rivers and streams in the upper Deschutes River region.

“We are grateful to Chief Heath and the entire Warm Springs community for their active stewardship of our rivers. We are committed to continuing to advance our shared goal of caring for our lands and waters and strengthening our connections to the land,” said Rika Ayotte, executive director.

 

 

Learn more:

• About Chief Delvis Heath from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
• Chief Delvis Heath: He Was Wind Power from The Confluence Project