Yeng Moua
Salmon, Steelhead and Whales
Discussion, April 7, 2008
ABSTRACT
The government uses its power to protect its people through using their law
and order to create equality and practice the growth and relations for ‘everyone’.
For Billy Frank “Billy”, the Nisqually Indians and most native
tribes in America, they have been harassed, beat down and locked up by
the government for continuing their residual family rights such as netting
salmon that has long been practiced for thousands of years. For Jimmy and
his people, the fight to keep their traditions alive has impacted them
to stand up for what is just and to also stand up to what is wrong.
In the late 1800’s, Territorial Governor, Isaac Stevens created treaties
that would give the natives rights to practice their traditional heritage
in a reservation and at the same time allow for white settlers to emigrate
into the Indians land. Although Stevens had a different agenda than that
of the Native Americans during his position of leadership, the fight of the
Native Americans to hold on to their land and customary rights still continued
to hold strong. Resentment towards the native people worsened as they were
blamed for the decline in the population even after they were forced to stop
or minimize greatly their customary way of fishing.
On February 12th, 1974, the fate of the Nisqually tribes would be affected
forever. Judge Boldt made the decision to grant the natives a 50-50 formula
which would essentially allow the natives to take 50 percent of game harvests
in regions of Washington State. After reviewing the treaty rights of the
Native Americans, the decision would change the way both Indian and non-Indian
communities looked at each other as “at-the-table-equals rather than
underground poaching societies”.
Date created: June, 2002
Last modified: May, 2008
Copyright ©2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
George R. Spangler