State Legislators

Rescue Tug Begins Five-Year Seasonal Stint In Neah Bay

NEAH BAY (September 16, 2003) The rescue tugboat Barbara Foss began its first day of duty of the 2003-2004 winter season today. The Neah Bay- based tug received a rousing send-off in Seattle Monday from Makah tribal council members, state legislators and other guests.

Unlike past years, the tug’s funding is firm for the next five. “This is a great step – to have the commitment from the state for multi-years and with bi-partisan support,” said Nathan Tyler, Makah Tribal chairman. “We are very grateful for that support and we hope to get the federal support to have that protection year-round, not just in the winter months,” he said.

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United Tribes Distribute Water Principles

OLYMPIA (Jan. 13, 2003) — Indian tribes today released a list of principles they say the state must comply with in setting water policy. The principles, which were distributed to the Governor’s Office, state legislators and state agencies, were accompanied by a letter from Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Chairman Billy Frank, Jr. which stated that tribes hold the senior water right in the state and that this fact, in addition to treaty law, requires the state to protect water with a priority toward sustaining fish and wildlife habitat.

“The senior right is not held by the public utility districts. It’s not held by the cities, and it’s not held by corporations or the counties. It’s held by the tribal governments, along with the state and federal governments. These are the governments that actually own the water, on behalf of their respective citizens. That’s the law, and yet the state has consistently ignored the tribes in its legislative and management practices and policies,” said Frank.

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