Ken Hansen, the former chairman of the Samish Nation of Washington, died of diabetes-related complications on Wednesday. He was 53.

Hansen, who stepped down earlier this year after 36 years of service to his people, spent decades fighting to regain the tribe's federal status. In 1969, a Bureau of Indian Affairs clerk somehow dropped the Samish from the list of recognized tribes.

It wasn't until 1995 that the tribe won recognition again. Federal courts and judges repeatedly blamed the BIA for treating the tribe in an unlawful manner.

Hansen then filed two more lawsuits, one to regain the tribe's treaty rights and another to regain federal funding it would have received between 1969 and 1995. Both cases are still in the courts, with preliminary rulings in the tribe's favor.

Get the Story:
Ken Hansen (1952-2006): Samish leader fought to make U.S. recognize tribe (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 7/28)
Leader of Samish Tribe for 36 years dies at age 53 (AP 7/28)

Court Decision:
Samish Indian Nation v. United States (August 19, 2005)

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

Related Stories:
Samish Nation leader steps down after 36 years (02/09)
Supreme Court won't rule on Indian law cases (01/10)
Indian law cases await U.S. Supreme Court action (12/08)
Samish Nation wins round in federal funding fight (08/22)
Jilted Washington tribe wins court ruling (1/7)
Samish Nation celebrates treaty rights ruling (01/07)
Samish Nation regains trust land after a century (09/16)
Landmark Boldt fishing rights decision turns 30 (2/10)
Judge won't restore tribe's treaty rights (12/20)
Samish: Other tribes 'without honor' (12/20)
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Jilted tribe sues for compensation (10/16)
Samish Tribe trying to regain treaty rights (12/11)