Billy Frank Jr., 1931-2014. Photo from Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
It looks like a street in Bellingham, Washington, will be named in honor of the late treaty rights activist Billy Frank Jr. The city council directed staff to look into changing Indian Street to Billy Frank Jr. Street, The Bellingham Herald reported. Frank was a member of the Nisqually Tribe who died in May2014. “It comes with a bit of heartache that we have a street named Indian Street, because that means so many different things to so many different people,” Roxanne Murphy, a member of the Nooksack Tribe who is the first Native American on the city council, said at a meeting last week, the Herald reported. “So many people identify with it in Indian Country, and others detest it. This is just as much to me about getting rid of the name Indian as it is about honoring Billy Frank.” Indian Street has been around since the early 20th century, the paper said. But a historian said there's no clear explanation for its name. Get the Story:
Bellingham Council: Change Indian St. to Billy Frank Jr. St. (The Bellingham Herald 6/24)
Related Stories
Lawmakers plan bill to
name wildlife refuge after Billy Frank (05/08) Crosscut to present special award to late activist Billy Frank Jr. (10/16)
Ernie Stevens: Tribute to late treaty rights advocate Billy Frank (07/02)
Cynthia Iyall: Billy Frank will be heard for generations to come (06/16)
Lorraine Loomis: Honor Billy Frank's legacy by carrying on work (06/09)
Jeromy Sullivan: Reflecting on lessons learned from Billy Frank (06/09)
Steve Pavlik: Billy Frank Jr. was part of the greatest generation (05/19)
Gyasi Ross: Paying tribute to a Native superhero -- Billy Frank (5/14)
Opinion: Billy Frank's fight for treaty rights was about civil rights (5/13)
Thousands pay tribute to treaty rights advocate Billy Frank Jr. (5/12)
Editorial: Billy Frank Jr. was a true American civil rights leader (5/12)
Ernie Stevens: Billy Frank Jr. removed the hands of oppression (5/9)
Opinion: Billy Frank Jr. was a Nelson Mandela for the Northwest (5/9)
Squaxin Island Tribe to webcast funeral services for Billy Frank (5/9)
Mark Trahant: Billy Frank Jr. was a rebel who was always happy (5/8)
Cynthia Iyall: Billy Frank was legendary figure in Indian Country (5/8)
Editorial: Billy Frank Jr. changed the fishing debate in Northwest (5/8)
Billy Frank to be laid to rest at Chief Leschi Cemetery on Sunday (5/7)
Nation mourns passing of treaty rights advocate Billy Frank Jr. (5/6)
Billy Frank: Oil terminal project threatens fishing in Washington (5/6)
Ryan Wilson: Indian Country loses a great warrior in Billy Frank (5/6)
Treaty rights advocate Billy Frank Jr. passes away at age of 83 (5/5)
Join the Conversation
