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 recognized 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.

  • Water Resources Technician – Swinomish Tribal Community

    October 11, 2018

    Download Announcement Performs field data and sample collection for the Swinomish Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which includes implementing data collection, performing equipment audits, and maintaining equipment.

  • Fish Production Scientist 2 – Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

    October 11, 2018

    Download Announcement This position involves working closely with the Assistant Director of Fish Production to achieve hatchery program goals, and to manage all aspects of salmon hatchery operations, facility compliance, project development and personnel supervision. Location is near Buckley, Washington at the White River Hatchery.

  • Fish Production Scientist 1 – Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

    October 11, 2018

    Download Announcement This position requires a highly motivated entry level biologist to work under general supervision as well as independently and on a team to accomplish all aspects of fish culture and a variety of operational and maintenance work related to the water treatment systems, equipment and infrastructure for two fish hatcheries.  

RSS News from nwtreatytribes.org

  • Pilchuck Dam removal to restore fish access to pristine habitat
    The Tulalip Tribes and the city of Snohomish plan to remove a dam on the Pilchuck River where fish passage has been impeded for more than 100 years. The city owns the water supply diversion dam on the river southeast of Granite Falls, but has started getting its drinking water from the city of Everett. […]
  • Tribes Support Southern Resident Killer Whale Task Force
    With southern resident orcas at their lowest numbers in decades, the world’s attention is focused on the decline of their preferred prey: Puget Sound chinook salmon. The treaty tribes in western Washington have been calling for years for bold actions to recover chinook salmon, including increased hatchery production, habitat restoration and protection, and determining predation […]
  • NW Treaty Tribes Magazine: Helping Resident Orcas, Counting Cougars
    Our fall magazine features a story about tribal participation in this summer’s effort to rescue an ailing orca and tribal support for resident orca recovery. You can download a free copy of the magazine here. From the magazine: The treaty tribes in western Washington have been calling for years for bold actions to recover chinook […]