Environment | Law

Samish Nation argues for fishing rights

Thursday, October 11, 2007

The Samish Nation of Washington asked a federal judge on Wednesday to restore its fishing rights.

In the landmark Boldt case, the tribe was denied its rights under the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott. The Samish weren't federally recognized at the time of the 1974 ruling that said tribes were entitled to half of the state's salmon catch.

After gaining recognition in the 1990s, the tribe sought to reopen the case. But the effort was opposed by other tribes who had their fishing rights recognized.

In January 2005, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the Samish and said the tribe should be given a chance to make its claim. A petition to the U.S. Supreme Court was rejected in January 2006.

Oral arguments lasted 2.5 hours yesterday, The Seattle Post-Inteligencer. reported. "We want to partner equally in the harvest and production of our shared natural resources," Chairman Tom Wooten told the paper.

Get the Story:
Samish Tribe tries to regain fishing rights it lost 2 decades ago (The Seattle Post-Inteligencer 10/11)

Court Decision:
Samish v. Washington (January 6, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Samish Indian Nation - http://www.samishtribe.nsn.us