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.

  • Seasonal Fisheries Techs III – Quinault Indian Nation

    August 11, 2017

    Download Openings Fisheries needs up to 3 seasonal workers in Queets from September through January 2017. Duties will include capture and release as well as assisting with spawning data collection. Download Application

  • Terrestrial Habitat Specialist

    August 2, 2017

    Download Announcement The position will support terrestrial habitat science needs of the coastal tribes including issue identification, analysis and response coordination. The incumbent will focus on current and predicted habitat issues affecting coastal resources. Incumbent will be proficient in the use of geographic information system (GIS) and possess the skills to display and interpret data […]

  • Deputy Director

    July 27, 2017

    Download Announcement Oversee the overall administrative functions of the organization. Serve as Acting Director in the absence of the Executive Director. Plan, direct and supervise the activities of the Administrative Services Division’s staff including Accounting, Information Systems, Clerical and Human Resources. Facilitate the development and preparation of agenda items for the NWIFC’s Finance & Organization […]

RSS News from nwtreatytribes.org

  • New technique helps tribe explore groundwater-fed creeks
    Squaxin Island Tribe biologists are using an underwater camera to find juvenile salmon in small creeks. The camera is paired with a cell phone to peek into pools and underneath logs. The technology is complementing snorkel surveys the tribe is conducting throughout the Skookum Creek watershed to determine where juvenile coho rear. The camera can […]
  • Cityvision Magazine: How cities and tribes work together
    The most recent edition of Cityvision Magazine explores how tribes in Washington state are building relationships with city governments despite decades of not working together. You can download the entire magazine here. Cityvision Magazine is a publication of the Association of Washington Cities. The centerpiece article  describes how two treaty tribes are working with their […]
  • Tribes Disappointed with State Culvert Appeal to Supreme Court
    Treaty tribes in western Washington were disappointed to learn today that state Attorney General Bob Ferguson will appeal the culvert case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Tribes believe the state of Washington has made remarkable progress in the past four years toward meeting a federal court mandate to repair hundreds of fish-blocking culverts under state […]