Jim currently serves on the 29th Tribal Council for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and recently retired after serving his tribe for 41 years as the General Manager of Power & Water Enterprise, where he managed the operation of the tribe’s interest in the Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric Project.  Jim was responsible for oversight on energy development activity on the Tribal land base. Jim also serves his Tribe as a Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commissioner.

As a tribal member of Wasco descent that grew up on the Reservation, knowledge of traditional tribal culture mixed with contemporary business management skills gives Jim a unique vision for balancing economic development with the natural resource utilization, with cultural preservation being a priority.

Jim’s connection to the falls consist of fishing and gathering of eels, sacred first foods. He recalls stories of his great Grandfather Jerry Brunoe harvesting at the falls.

“It is a place we have gathered for harvesting and visiting with other tribes around the region, who also shared the resource to provide sustenance for all people, since time immemorial.”