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.

  • Habitat Policy Analyst II

    June 8, 2018

    Download Announcement Provide policy analysis, support and coordination on emerging habitat issues for Commission and member tribes to advance habitat protection and restoration objectives necessary to the protection of tribal treaty rights and resources. Analyze, advise and support development of habitat protection approaches to address treaty-resource issues. Assist in the implementation and advancement of the […]

  • 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.

  • Introducing Northwest Treaty Tribes

    August 24, 2015

    Tribes. Treaty Rights. That’s what we’re all about. This week, the treaty tribes in western Washington are launching a new communications effort called Northwest Treaty Tribes: Protecting Natural Resources for Everyone. At first blush, the only change you’ll notice is that instead of getting tribal natural resources news from social media and web platforms of […]

RSS News from nwtreatytribes.org

  • Swinomish Studies Early Life Stages of Dungeness Crab
    The Swinomish Tribe is monitoring the early life stages of Dungeness crab in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Whidbey basin, in hopes of learning more about their survival to adulthood. “Dungeness crab are culturally significant to the Swinomish Tribe, and it’s also our most economically valuable fishery,” said fisheries manager Lorraine Loomis. “With […]
  • European Green Crab Spring 2018: Big Finds Near Neah Bay
    Sightings of the invasive European green crab are on the rise near Neah Bay. As of mid-June 2018, the Makah Tribe had trapped 392 crab in the Wa’atch and Tsoo-yess rivers. That is more than were found in 2017 in all of Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands and Strait of Juan de Fuca combined, […]
  • Statement on Supreme Court Ruling in Culvert Case
    Statement on Supreme Court Ruling in Culvert Case from Lorraine Loomis, Chair, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission: Today is a great day for salmon, tribes, treaty rights and everyone who lives in western Washington. This Supreme Court ruling means more salmon for everyone. It will open hundreds of miles of high-quality salmon habitat that will produce […]