Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission

During the First Stewards climate change symposium last year, Dr. Simone Alin made a well-received presentation describing the process of ocean acidification. Alin is an oceanographer and marine chemist at NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle.

As the state of Washington begins to attempt to address an issue that threatens both tribal and non-tribal communities alike, it is a good time to post a link …

The inaugural First Stewards symposium, to be held July 17-20 in Washington, D.C. is a national event that examines the impact of climate change on indigenous coastal cultures and explores solutions based on millennia of traditional ecological knowledge.

Hundreds of native leaders, witnesses and climate scientists will join policy-makers and non-government organizations for groundbreaking dialogue in what is planned to be an annual meeting at the …

IPC Annual Report

“The coastal treaty Indian tribes and the state of Washington as co-managers continue to work with the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS) to achieve a shared vision of priorities for understanding and protecting the marine environment and improving the lives of all who depend on the sea.”

NEAH BAY- The chattering sound of hundreds of decorative purple olive shells has accompanied Makah tribal dancers for at least 500 years. The three-quarter-inch shells have been found in the oldest archeological digs in Neah Bay. Holes pierced in the end indicate they were used for necklaces, headbands, belts and other decoration.

The  canoe families from Washington and B.C. are starting to make their way toward Suquamish this week.

To follow the landing dates, where canoes will be pulling into over the course of the next two weeks, go to www.tribaljourneys2009.com. Nearly 100 canoes are expected to descend upon the shores of Suquamish on Monday, August 3, followed by five days of celebration of tribal ancestry.

A …

The Puyallup Tribal News covered this year’s elders fishery:

For the second year, Puyallup Tribal elders were given the first crack at the fishing season.

Because of lower returns over the years, many local tribes, including Puyallup, have severely cut down on days tribal members are allowed to fish in order to help re-generate the larger salmon returns tribal members remember from decades ago.

“I

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The Jamestown S’Klallam and Port Gamble S’Klallam tribes recently made headlines by taking a position on the potential prohibiting of shellfish harvest in Mystery Bay, off Marrowstone Island, near Port Townsend. The state Department of Health has concerns about the moored buoys in the bay.

The Peninsula Daily News wrote several articles, including this one discussing the recent letter sent from the tribes to various federal, …

The Skagit River System Cooperative (SRSC)  has found evidence that beavers living in the tidal marsh are creating prime salmon habitat. The SRSC is the natural resources arm of the Swinomish and Sauk-Suiattle tribes.

The Seattle Times reports:

Today, only about 6 percent of the tidal scrub shrub habitat is left in the Skagit River Delta, and that’s better than a lot of places where

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From the Centralia Chronicle:

The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife has prescribed a solution for controlling the so-called South Rainier elk herd, considered a blessing by some in the East Lewis County area and burden by others.
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The recommendation drew the ire of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, one of four tribes with hunting rights in the region. The tribe is currently …

The Skagit River System Cooperative, the natural resources arm of the Swinomish and Sauk-Suiattle tribes, is working with the state Department of Natural Resources to replace a boat launch and restore the beach around the Tesoro Refinery on March Point.

The Skagit Valley Herald has the story:

The average beachcomber might not see the difference when comparing the beaches on either side of the

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