Northwest Treaty Tribes

Several treaty tribes, including the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, oppose Initiative 2117, which would strip funding for programs that support clean air and water, help prevent wildfires, and keep tribes safe from flooding and sea level rise.

Over 400 organizations and Tribal Nations join to oppose Initiative 2117 - Lynnwood Times Since its public launch in April 2024, the coalition opposing Initiative 2117 has grown to over 400 organizations and Tribal Nations.

The effects of climate change are most acutely felt in Indigenous communities, with roots that run thousands of years and generations deep in the land.

“We’re so close to the land we’re not only seeing the climate impacts within our community with our people, but we’re also seeing it in the environment,” said Aaron Jones, citizen and interim natural and cultural resources director of the Tulalip Tribes. "We’re seeing it with the clams, the shellfish, the trees and especially with the salmon."

Climate change is already reshaping PNW shorelines. Tribal nations are showing how to adapt Researchers are combing the shores of Puget Sound to better understand how sea level rise could erode whole communities.

Squaxin Island Tribe Chairman Kris Peters joined Port of Olympia officials at a recent community event at the newly renamed Billy Frank Jr. Park and Trail, where signage has been installed to educate the public about the tribal leader's legacy.

"Billy Frank Jr. and others did so much to retain our inherent right to fish," he said. "He sacrificed—and others sacrificed—so we could keep those inherent rights. The fight he fought and others fought will be felt for generations."

In addition to telling Billy's story, the signs include information on the Squaxin Island Tribe, the life cycle of salmon and canoe journey landings hosted by the Nisqually Indian Tribe and Squaxin Island Tribe.

The new kiosk is in Billy Frank Jr. Park, and additional informational markers can be found along the Billy Frank Jr. trail between the corner of East Bay Drive/Olympia Avenue and the park at NorthPoint (near KGY Radio).

In partnership with the Squaxin Island Tribe and the Frank family, Port of Olympia Commissioners earlier approved the renaming of East Bay Trail and NorthPoint Park to honor the tribal leader's legacy.

“We have so much respect for the rich history and contributions of the Indigenous tribes in our region, and especially for the leadership of Billy Frank Jr. With this installation, we hope to show both our gratitude and our commitment to honoring his legacy as we strive to preserve and protect the environmental resources in our community,” said the Port of Olympia's executive director Alex Smith.

It's that time of year again when hatchery salmon are returning to Whatcom Creek and supporting tribal fishing.

"Ultimately our concern is the displacement of native species and species that are of cultural importance to the Quileute Tribe.”

The Quileute Tribe, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and others detected invasive European green crab in a new region of the Washington coast.

European green crabs detected in Quillayute River estuary near La Push Joint survey results in first time invasive species found on Washington’s North Central Coast.LA PUSH – Invasive European green crabs (EGC) have been captured for the first time in a new area of the Washington Coast.

Legislation has been proposed to transfer ownership of more than 1,000 acres of ancestral land to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. The land is currently owned by the National Park Service, which acquired it as part of the project to remove two fish-blocking dams, which was completed in 2014.

Kilmer Introduces Legislation to Protect Sacred and Cultural Lands for Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe | U.S. Congressman Derek Kilmer of Washington's 6th District The Official U.S. Congress website of Congressman Derek Kilmer of Washington's 6th District

“We are celebrating this ruling today and looking forward to seeing this terrible rock dam structure removed soon. It will take years to undo the harms Electron has caused, but this is an important start.”

The Puyallup River will flow natural for the first time in more than a century after a key court ruling ordering removal of a portion of Electron Dam.

Ninth Circuit Decision Upholds Earlier Court Ruling Ordering Partial Removal of Washington’s Electron Dam Ruling means a free-flowing Puyallup River for fish for the first time in more than 100 years

Next year, a bronze statue of treaty rights champion Billy Frank Jr. will be installed in National Statuary Hall in Washington D.C.

Through Saturday, a model of the statue can be viewed at the Port Angeles Main Library in conjunction with a meeting of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.

Model of Billy Frank Jr. statue to be on display this week | Peninsula Daily News PORT ANGELES — A model of a statue of Billy Frank Jr. will be available for public viewing this week in conjunction with a meeting of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.

Washington law requires every owner of a fish-blocking culvert to restore passage. State agencies just happen to be the only ones court-ordered to do so.

Improving salmon habitat and transportation for generations to come By Roger Millar, Washington State Secretary of Transportation Perfect is the enemy of good. This feels remarkably applicable to the Washing...

“I’ve been fishing this river for more than 40 years,” said tribal fisher Ben Williams after a morning of fishing in June that saw him catch some impressive spring chinook. “I’ve seen all the changes. I’ve been on this river for a lot of years.”

Wiliams was one of several tribal elders who participated in a fishery exclusive to elders that enables them to exercise their treaty rights. Puyallup harvest manager Chris Phinney is among the staffers who check the elders’ catch, including wanding the salmon to determine if they’re hatchery fish returning to the Muckleshoot Tribal hatchery on the White River.

“I’m lucky to have good communication with our elder fishers,” he said.

As the presence of biotoxins in the marine ecosystem is being prolonged in part due to warmer temperatures, tribes are having to test shellfish for contamination more frequently and harvest those resources less often.

“We’ve had very small windows of opportunity where the levels dropped low enough that we could go out and harvest,” said Viviane Barry, shellfish program manager for the Suquamish Tribe.

Shellfish harvesters are having to consider biotoxins later into fall and winter - Northwest Public Broadcasting It used to be the case that people who harvest shellfish could breathe a sigh of relief in late autumn. Spring, summer and even early fall have long presented the right conditions for harmful algae to grow and produce biotoxins in waters along the Washington state coast and into Puget Sound. But in....

A report released yesterday by the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative found Coastal tribes in the Pacific Northwest are the communities most at risk from climate change — but face bureaucratic roadblocks in fighting it.

Pacific Northwest tribes are battered by climate change but fight to get money meant to help them A report shows that coastal tribes in the Pacific Northwest experience some of the most severe effects of climate change but face an array of bureaucratic barriers when it comes to accessing government funds meant to help them adapt.

Campfire rules should always be carefully followed. A recent illegal fire destroyed culturally significant trees in the North Cascades.

“It’s unfortunate that this one act of foolishness resulted in such a traumatic loss for the Upper Skagit Tribe,” said Scott Schuyler, natural resources policy representative for the tribe.

Illegal campfire in North Cascades causes loss of culturally significant cedars | Cascadia Daily News Human-caused Aug. 2 fire closed campground before being extinguished

“This partnership reflects the Muckleshoot Tribe’s deep connection to the Seattle waterfront where our ancestors celebrated the return of the salmon since time immemorial."

Seattle Aquarium announces new partnership with Muckleshoot Tribe The collaboration hopes to further enrich cultural and marine science education opportunities at the aquarium.

Members of the Nisqually Indian Tribe gathered Sunday for the First Salmon ceremony. Tribal fishers took boats onto the Nisqually River and caught salmon to be used in the ceremony. After the first salmon was filleted, its remains were returned to the water on a plank of cedar so it can tell other salmon to return. Several dozen tribal members gathered at this year's ceremony at a location known as Reuben's Camp, on the banks of the river.

The Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe is set to take over management of the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge (known as "The Spit") for the next two years. Access will remain open to the public, but visitors can expect to see trail and sign upgrades.

Jamestown Tribe closes deal with USF&W to take over management of Dungeness Refuge By Pepper Fisher DUNGENESS WILDLIFE REFUGE – The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe is about to sign a 2-year, renewable contract with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USF&W) to take over management of the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge,

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Tribal members gathered Wednesday to welcome and celebrate young people as they completed the Power Paddle to Puyallup Youth Canoe Journey.

Almost 80 canoe families took part in the journey, which saw them welcomed by tribes as they traveled traditional routes.

The best stewards for our lands and waters are the ones who’ve been doing it the longest.

Patrick DePoe is running for Commissioner of Public Lands. If elected, he would be the first Native American elected to statewide office.

Don't forget to turn your primary ballots in by the end of the day Aug 6. You can register the same day at your county elections department.

It’s Time to Listen to the Elders We all need to listen to the elders.

The ESA petition does not meet the conservation standard, containing "numerous factual errors, omissions, incomplete references, and unsupported assertions and conclusions.”

Being Frank: Endangered Species Act petition is a distraction from conservation efforts - Northwest Treaty Tribes Being Frank is a column by Chairman Ed Johnstone of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. As a statement from the…

Learn more about Patrick DePoe, who could be the first Native American elected to statewide office in Washington. He is running for Commissioner of Public Lands and has been endorsed by Hilary Franz, who currently serves in that role.

Primary ballots are due by 8 pm Aug 6.

2024 Video Voters' Guide - Patrick DePoe - TVW The Office of the Secretary of State and TVW present the 2024 Video Voters Guide featuring Patrick DePoe, Candidate for Commissioner of Public Lands.

“The only way to definitively put the issue to rest is through dam removal,” Scott Schuyler of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe said of Seattle City Light's decades-long, false claims that its dams on the Skagit River have not blocked fish passage.
“Ultimately, the Upper Skagit would like to see the sights and hear the sounds of a naturally flowing river—a return to the Indigenous landscape."

How Seattle Lied To Tribes About Its Dams Newly discovered documents reveal how Seattle's City government knowingly impacted an Indigenous Tribe's treaty rights for over a century.

Tulalip savors a bounty of seafood at this annual beach seine each year.

“One of my favorite things is seeing all the babies play on the beach and in the water. Seeing their spirits so high on in these ancestral fishing grounds reminds me that our ancestors are here, too, and we are making them so proud by keeping the culture alive,” elder Lena Hammons told Tulalip News at the event.

Catching culture and community at Spee-Bi-Dah - Tulalip News By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News Event facilitators and support staff took to the calming, compact sand of Spee-Bi-Dah beach shortly after sunrise on Saturday, July 20. As they prepped the shoreline for hundreds of soon-to-be arriving guests, lifetime fishermen and current Tribal Councilman Glen Gobin....

Statement from NWIFC Chairman Ed Johnstone about unprecedented federal investment in tribal hatchery programs:

"The loss of habitat and the impacts of climate change have brought Pacific salmon to the brink of extinction. Hatcheries are essential to salmon recovery while we work to restore and protect their habitat," said NWIFC Chairman Ed Johnstone.

"NWIFC tribes are grateful to Sen. Murray, Rep. Kilmer and NOAA, and especially want to thank Sen. Cantwell for working with tribal leaders to secure this unprecedented funding through the Inflation Reduction Act. With it, tribes can make much-needed maintenance and upgrades at tribal hatcheries.

"The funding will improve enhancement programs that provide harvest opportunities for tribal and nontribal fishers, as well as food for southern resident orcas. We look forward to speedy implementation of this program in support of the hatcheries that support our treaty-protected rights to harvest and manage salmon."

Read NWIFC Vice Chair Lisa Wilson's statement below.

NOAA's announcement: https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2024/07/commerce-and-interior-departments-announce-240-million-president-bidens

For Immediate Release-July 25, 2024

Pacific Northwest Tribes receive monumental funding for much needed hatchery repairs and upgrades

Do you know a native high school-aged youth who is interested in fishing, outdoors or natural resources? The Native Youth Salmon Summit on Oct. 15-16, 2024 on the Tulalip Tribes reservation will give kids a chance learn more about working in that field through hands-on activities and meeting natural resources professionals. For more information, sign up at nwifc.org/nyss.

"This kelp, this sweet grass, it has been stewarding these waters for thousands of years, providing nourishment and life to this ecosystem, to other plants and animals."

Bull kelp has been vanishing throughout Puget Sound. Squaxin Island Tribe is teaming up with the state to help save it.

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/puget-sound-squaxin-tribes-kelp

Squaxin Tribe fights to save Puget Sound’s vanishing underwater forests Reports show over the past century and a half bull kelp in the region has declined 90%, but a new partnership with the Squaxin Island Tribe looks to protect these critical marine habitats

Planted eelgrass beds in Port Angeles Harbor by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and partners have flourished in unexpected ways, improving habitat for juvenile salmon and forage fish and stabilizing the nearshore.
https://nwtreatytribes.org/eelgrass-mitigation-project-a-growing-success/

Hear why Patrick DePoe, Makah, is the best candidate for Commissioner of Public Lands.

DePoe's Unique Vision for Washington's Public Lands Role Patrick DePoe, Makah Tribe member and DNR Tribal Relations Director, aims to be WA's first Native American statewide official as Lands Commissioner. He pledges to draw on his experience to improve wildfire management and balance conservation with rural economic needs.