John Barnett, the longtime chairman of the Cowlitz Tribe of Washington, died over the weekend. He was 73.

Barnett was elected chair in 1982. He led the tribe's federal recognition effort, which succeeded in 2000.

Barnett soon began the push to establish an initial reservation for the tribe. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is expected to make a decision in the coming months.

Services will take place Saturday and Sunday.

Get the Story:
Longtime Cowlitz tribal chairman dies at age 73 (The Oregonian 6/17)
Cowlitz council chairman dies at home at age 73 (The Columbian 6/17)
Cowlitz tribe mourns passing of Chairman John Barnett (The Longview Daily News 6/17)
Wash. tribal leader who worked with Mohegans dies (The Norwich Bulletin 6/17)
Cowlitz Chairman Barnett Dies at 73 (The Cowlitz Chronicle 6/16)