The Tulalip Tribes of Washington signed a cooperative agreement with Snohomish County on Monday at the site where Treaty of Point Elliott was signed in 1855.

The tribes and the county are seeking to cooperate on economic, education and social issues. They are also seeking to avoid litigation.

The county tried to impose its land-use regulations on the Tulalip Reservation. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the county's claim and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the case. The county has also fought a land-into-trust request by the Stillaguamish Tribe.

"No one expects the disagreements to end, but the Tulalip Tribes and Snohomish County agreed yesterday to keep small problems from turning into big lawsuits," The Seattle Times says in an editorial.

Get the Story:
Tulalips, county sign pact (The Everett Herald 5/18)
Editorial: Snohomish, Tulalips make more history (The Seattle Times 5/18)

Relevant Links:
Tulalip Tribes - http://www.tulaliptribes.com
Snohomish County - http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us

Related Stories:
Wash. county opposing tribe's land-into-trust request (01/28)
Supreme Court rejects state jurisdiction appeal (03/11)
Indian land case being reviewed (3/3)
Indian fee land free from state control (09/19)