Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission

Representatives of western Washington treaty tribes were present at last week’s event celebrating the Washington Shellfish Initiative. The effort would promote growing shellfish and restoring ecosystems in Washington State.

From the Olympian’s coverage of the event:

Supporters of the initiative said the shellfish industry raises clams and oysters that filter and improve water quality. They are part of the Puget Sound cleanup solution, not part

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Elwha Dam removal is visible from a public viewing area off Highway 112 west of Port Angeles. Work also continues to remove the Glines Canyon Dam.

The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe spent the week of Sept. 12 celebrating the removal of the 108-foot-tall Elwha Dam and 210-foot-tall Glines Canyon Dam before the official start of removal on Sept. 17. Events included storytelling from tribal members, drumming sessions, a fundraising gala for the tribe’s education program, interviews with elders and a two-day conference on river restoration efforts with scientists from all over the world.…

APPROPRIATIONS (President Obama’s Spending Proposals Anticipated)

Rob Nabors, deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, said the Obama Administration has gone line by line through the budget to identify programs that are not working or a lower priority. Spending proposals for some programs will decrease while others increase. “The liberal criticisms will be somewhat muted when they actually see the details of what …

TRIBAL/OBAMA SUMMIT SET

President Obama will meet with hundreds of tribal leaders in Washington, D.C. November 5th, 2009.  The President had committed to an annual meeting with tribal leaders during his 2008 campaign and is fulfilling his promise. This historic meeting will coincide with the National Congress of American Indians’ Grand Opening of the Embassy of Tribal Nations on November 3rd and a tribal leaders meeting …

APPROPRIATIONS  FY ’09

Tribal efforts were successful in the restoration of the Pacific Salmon Treaty funding for FY09 in its entirety ($1.772m)–a significant accomplishment with a coordinated effort from the NWIFC delegation, Columbia River Inter-tribal Fish Commission and Chairman Ron Allen.  A lot of credit for this success goes to Mary Jane Miller of the BIA Central Office who was able to secure these funds and …

OLYMPIA - With the simple stroke of her pen today, Governor Chris Gregoire may have helped save the coast, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Puget Sound and the Hood Canal from the devastation of a major oil spill.

“A hell of a lot of work has gone into this simple signing of Senate Bill 5344 and it’s going to take a lot more to …

APPROPRIATIONS

As Federal Update reported last month, the FY-2009 just passed Tuesday, but now that the main stimulus has been passed and signed, an outline of the Obama FY ’10 budget has been released with details yet to come.

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S FIRST BUDGET (FY ’10)

A spate of testimony from Administration officials has hit the hill regarding President Obama’s FY 2010 budget, with OMB Director Peter …

Senate Republicans Collins, Snowe and Specter join Democrats in passing $835 Billion Stimulus Bill (61-37); Conference expected to begin immediately to get bill to President by the end of the week.

Negotiators for Congress and the White House worked to narrow differences on an economic stimulus bill on Wednesday in hopes of clearing a bill for President Barack Obama’s signature by week’s end.

After unofficial talks …

BIA BASE BUDGET FY 2009

The election of a new president, the appointment of a new cabinet and the changing face of Congress are all good news to the tribes, and to everyone else who cares about a healthy environment and sustainable economies. But, for FY 2009, the tribes still face a funding crisis that threatens their ability to support their basic fisheries management responsibilities, and …