Tə́s Yə́cəm

Today marks an important day in the history of the Cascades as Grand Chieftain Kusinut declares a "new era of modernization in the Cascades."

Earlier this morning Kusinut and the rest of the Grand Council came to an unanimous agreement to bring government reform. Currently, the government's officials are chosen using the traditional elder system, but now the government will shift towards elected officials. Kusinut stated in his speech that it is "growing more and more impractical to use an elder system of a nation with an ever-growing population." As of now, the Salish League is home to over nine million. Aside from an elected official system replacing the current elder system, the government structure will not change: the Grand Council will still reign over the Councils of the three member states. The honorary title of Grand Chieftain will still be in place for new leaders, and the first election is scheduled for November 1808. Until then, Kusinut will remain as Grand Chieftain.

The next major reform will be the adoption of a standardized language. Kusniut stated "Although all people in the Cascades speak Salish, our tribes all have their own unique dialects, and languages gets more diverse to the north and east. As we expand into our claimed land to the west of the Rockies, we will need a medium language to speak with other tribes as we assimilate them into our nation." The Grand Council has decided that English will become the standard language, for it is the language already used by the American Free States and the Democratic Federation of the Wyandot to the east. Mittelamerikan will also be taught, but will not be mandatory.

Furthermore, the official name of the nation will be changed from the Salish League of the Cascades to the Cascadian Confederacy, a name already commonly used by most other nations. This name change will commemorate the recent modernization so outsiders will recognize us as a true nation. The current flag will remain.

1,000 soldiers stood proudly during a large ceremony in front of the Grand Council building in Quinault, commemorating the newly founded 1st Cascadian Ranger Regiment.

The 1st Cascadian Ranger Regiment is comprised of elite light infantry specialized in skirmishing and harassing enemy lines, and Rangers will have much more extensive training than standard regulars. The Rangers are equipped with the newest generation of Cascadian weaponry, using rifling technology to increase bullet accuracy tenfold, as well as the standard steel tomahawks. They carry lighter loads for increased mobility in combat. Cascadian Rangers are also trained to provide scouting and reconnaissance, and one of their main missions will be patrolling our lands to make sure our people are safe. The first Cascadian Rangers are set to finish training later this week and begin their service in the Confederate Army.