The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC) is a natural resources management support service organization for 20 treaty Indian tribes in western Washington. Headquartered in Olympia, the NWIFC employs approximately 65 people with satellite offices in Burlington and Forks.

NWIFC member tribes are: Lummi, Nooksack, Swinomish, Upper Skagit, Sauk-Suiattle, Stillaguamish, Tulalip, Muckleshoot, Puyallup, Nisqually, Squaxin Island, Skokomish, Suquamish, Port Gamble S’Klallam, Jamestown S’Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam, Makah, Quileute, Quinault, and Hoh.

The NWIFC was created following the 1974 U.S. v. Washington ruling (Boldt Decision) that re-affirmed the tribes’ treaty-reserved fishing rights. The ruling established them as natural resources co-managers with the State of Washington with an equal share of the harvestable number of salmon returning annually.

Read more on our About Us page.

  • Environmental Division Manager – Makah Tribe

    April 20, 2018

    Download Announcement The primary responsibilities of this position are to oversee Environmental programs and 1) provide guidance to tribal staff on resource management issues that may affect Tribe’s treaty reserved rights to sustainable fisheries; and 2) provide guidance to the Makah Tribal government and community on sustainable practices on the Makah Reservation. Develop and write […]

  • Conservation Policy Analyst

    April 13, 2018

    Download Announcement Assist the Commission and member tribes with analysis and strategic response of issues affecting tribal rights and resources. Provide policy analysis that supports integration of the habitat, harvest and hatchery issues / processes affecting tribal rights and resources. Provide intertribal coordination and support tribal participation in relevant state and federal processes including rule-making […]

  • Salmon Recovery Biologist – Suquamish Tribe

    February 28, 2018

    Download Announcement Develops and implements salmon recovery and restoration plans; designs and conducts research and monitoring activities; and represents the Tribe for environmental outreach and education programs and activities supporting salmon recovery.

RSS News from nwtreatytribes.org

  • NW Treaty Tribes Magazine: Nisqually DNA Study Looks at Adult Chinook Population
    The latest Northwest Treaty Tribes magazine features a story about how the Nisqually Tribe is looking at the genetics of out-migrating juvenile chinook to find out how many adult chinook have spawned in recent years. You can download a free copy here or sign up for a free print subscription here. From the magazine: From 2012 to 2014, the tribe operated […]
  • Washington’s salmon fishing seasons set for 2018
    With low returns of chinook and coho salmon expected back to numerous rivers in Washington, state and tribal co-managers Tuesday agreed on a fishing season that meets conservation goals for wild fish while providing fishing opportunities on healthy salmon runs. The 2018-19 salmon fisheries, developed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and […]
  • Sediment samples fill in the gaps for fishery managers
    Five years of sampling have provided resources managers with concrete information about how much sediment is traveling downstream in the Sauk River watershed, and when. “Before doing this study, we had to rely on best guesses for the quantity and timing of suspended sediment,” said Scott Morris, water quality coordinator for the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe. “Now, […]