Rainbow Gathering Liason Summary
Permits and Agreement
1972
Arapehoe National Forest, Granby, Colorado.
Table Mtn. National Recreation Area
District Ranger Dean Rasmusson.
"From a resource point
of view the site will recover well."
Lt. Col. Richard Shippers
1975
Shoshone National Forest, Lander, Wyoming.
Green River Area by Wind River Reservation
Lander Ranger District
District Ranger Smith and assistant Ray Hall
Wilderness Ranger Pat Harrison
Forest Service report lists names of "agents;" reports in
dragnet style; calls cleanup, "excellent."
1974
Virgin River, Zion National Park, Utah.
1975
Ozark National Forest, Arkansas.
Buffalo Ranger District
District Ranger Arnberger and assistant Tim Smith
Forest Supervisor Hensen
1976
Lewis and Clark National Forest, Choteau, Montana.
Jones Creek Area
District Ranger Lloyd Swanger
Sheriff Pete Howard
Asst. Ranger Ray Mills
Kootenat Dist. Ranger Dean Weeden
`Supervisor for Glacier Park: Phil Iverson
Chief Ranger for Glacier Park: Chuck Seigler
Regional Dir. S.W. Region National I)arks: Joseph Rumberg
In 1976 we had our first "permit."
We bed attempted in previous years to work with local,
regional and state agencies, Mostly we had been met with
opposition, confusion, disbelief, sometimes even roadblocks or
arrests.
In our quest to gather peacefully in a manner which would
allow folks to come to gather without fear, bringing their
children, we sought ways to meet and communicate both with local
residents and the various government agencies.
It was after much discussion that we decided to apply for 8
permit in March 1976. Three months later, in June 1976 we were
able to work out a simple permit with Sheriff Pete Howard end
Ranger Lloyd Swanger. This mellowed the local populace by
"legalizing" the event. The result was a smooth working relation-
ship with the town and the Forest Service.
1977
Gila National Forest, Winston, New Mexico.
Staff Dir. Law Enforcement: Don Webb
Recreation and Land Staff Officer: Ron Henderson
Forest Supervisor: Bob Williamson
Again we worked out a permit but this time it was a much
longer complicated affair the Forest Service presented us with.
Still we were able to work out a lot of details on paper of
"who was responsible for what."
We spent a long time arguing just how far out from the side
of the canyon the Forest Service would "O.K." our tipi circle
to be.
We also encountered our first request for a fee. We protested
that request then as we have each time since.
1978
Umpqua National Forest, Rosenburg, Oregon
Diamond Lake District Ranger Dennis Martin
Forest Supervisor Swartzlender
Deputy Supervisor Kent Churchill
Douglas County Sheriff Merle Jensen
Under Sheriff Lyle Dickenson
In 1978 in Oregon the Forest Service was very cooperative
but the County government chose to oppose the event, demand a
permit of their own, and set stipulations under a state anti-
rock concert law that were completely impossible. Kent Churchill
presented a statement at that time indicating the U.S. Forest
Service's position on the legitimacy or our right to gather.
1979
Apache-Sitgraves National Forest, Arizona.
Alpine District Ranger Larry Mullins
Assistant Ranger Dennis Roy
Forest Supervisor Jim Kimball
Law Enforcement: Manuel Martinez
Ranger Jim Berkee
Supervisor Bruce Morgan
Administrative Assistant James Cooley
In Arizona we had our longest most detailed permit. We were
still objecting to the fee requirement. Although the process
step by step was complicated we worked it out in a series of
meetings.
1980
Monongahela National Forest, Marlinton, West Virginia
Forest Supervisor Ralph Mumee
Ranger Sob Bodine
Recreation Officer John Ballantyne
Law Enforcement: Ron Zeigler
District Ranger Dale Dunshee
Sheriff F. W. Dickerson
Marlinton Police Chief Jim Shorter
In West Virginia the Forest Service rejected all our site
selections and told us we were Being to gather on this coal
tipple. It had treacherous access and no good water. "And don't
give me any of this Constitutional rights stuff," said Forest
Supervisor Ralph Mumee. "That may work for you out west, but
around here we maintain the forest and we administer it."
Influential citizens brought us and the Forest Service to
court to prevent us from gathering at the coal tipple -- a
piece we had never intended to be.
We moved to another site where the Forest Service immediately
issued tickets to 6 persons and 1 rainbow liason for camping without
a permit.
Ranger Bob Bodine asked us to go with the permit process to
prevent a precedent for other un-permitted practices.
The enforcement branch of the Forest Service began stopping
vehicles at the front gate, slowing traffic, disrupting the parking
pattern and obstructing the operational flow and peaceful harmony
of the event.
In negotiating the permit, Ranger Bodine indicated that if
we had a signed permit, we would be in a "legal" position end
he would be in a position to call off the enforcement branch's
activities at the front gate.
Over 1000 people sighed the permit papers, on July 3rd
The next day, however, the enforcement team was continuing its
harrassment tactics at our front gate.
1981
Colville National Forest, Newport, Washington.
Coordinating Ranger Ray Quintana
Pend Oreille County Sheriff Tony Bamonte
Forest Service Law Enforcement: Ben Hull
Forest Supervisor 'William Shenk
District Ranger George Lundeen
Rehabilitation: Bred Fatten
In Washington we were determined to find a more suitable
way to relate with the Forest Service. We mapped out a series of
responsibilities: yours and ours. These were signed by both
parties and the event proceeded smoothly. Thus, on June 12, 1981
we entered into our first "operational agreement."
However, after the Gathering we found that an altered
version of this had been mailed to us -- at bone addresses
far from where we were easily accessible at the Gathering The
title had been changed from "Agreement between the U.S. Forest
Service and the Rainbow Family" to "U.S. Forest Service plan
agreed to by Rainbow Family." And a permit from had been stapled
to the front this document. So that with the final page being
the last page of the signed agreement, it looked as though we had
sighed a permit. Enclosed with this mockery of a permit was a bill
for the permit fee.
1982
Payette National Forest, Council, Idaho.
Forest Service Coordinator Gene Benedict
Forest Supervisor Kenneth 'Meyer
Sheriff Jim Hileman
In Idaho with the previous lessons clearly in mind we
carefully worked out a set of agreements and drew up an operations
plan with Ranger Gene Benedict and his team. We signed each
others original copies. Some points were the subject of long
detailed negotiating. The resulting process worked and we had
a fine working relation with the Forest Service excepting the
problem of unwarranted surveillance: recording of license #s
and related acts of photography and information gathering.
1983
Ottowa National Forest, Watersmeet, Michigan
Forest Supervisor Joseph Zylinski
District Ranger Mickey Hall
recreation Officer Bob Burton
Our liason team and the Forest Service worked out an
operations plan and an agreement early on. It was adhered to
throughout the event and things ran smoothly.
A newspaper reporter told us that the Forest Supervisor had
issued a "permit" verbally.
***
We have been gathering now for over a dozen years in all
parts of this country. We have found practices that work for the
health, maintenance and security of these events. We have been
able to work together with all kinds or people with different
persuasions about us. We are going to continue to gather in
peace regardless of obstacles or restraints. This as a natural
thing for us to do. It is a God-given right for those who choose
to exercise it, We hope to meet with cooperation and understanding.
We enjoy being; mellow. If the situation demands being strong,
then we can be strong.
The liason effort has broadened our perspective of the
position of this event in upholding the people's basic right to
peaceable assembly and religious exercise. The Forest Service's
powers must be used to protect the natural rights of the people
as well as the nation's natural resources.