"Praise the patience of the Chinook. More than 200 years after helping Lewis and Clark at Dismal Nitch and at Cathlapotle, the tribe is on the road to federal recognition. Finally!

Only this time, it’s called Tribal Restoration.

The Chinook Tribe numbers 2,500 members on the lower Columbia River, including 60 Clark County residents, according to Sam Robinson, the vice chairman of the Chinook Tribal Council.

The quest for recognition began in 1851. Robinson said his great-great-great grandfather, Thomas Huckswelt, signed the Anson Dart Treaty. Huckswelt was the last chief of the Willapa Tribe of Lower River Chinook. The treaty was never ratified by the Senate. On July 23, 1979, the tribe again sought recognition from Congress. They received it — briefly — Jan. 3, 2001, at the end of the Clinton administration, only to have it rescinded July 5, 2002, after George Bush took office. Opposition by the Quinault Indian Nation of the Olympic Peninsula may have been a factor."

Get the Story:
Tom Koenninger: Recognition for Chinook overdue (The Columbian 8/20)

Get the Bill:
Chinook Nation Restoration Act (H.R.6689)

Related Stories:
Editorial: It's time to recognize the Chinook Nation (8/8)
Vote not expected on Chinook recognition bill (8/6)
Bill introduced to recognize Chinook Nation (8/1)
McCaleb reverses Chinook decision (7/8)
Chinook recognition delayed (3/6)
Chinook recognition sent back to BIA (11/8)
Chinook recognition to be reconsidered (11/7)
Norton won't review Chinook recognition (3/20)
Chinook Nation eager to tell story (3/2)
Gover reverses Chinook decision (1/04)