A rainbow is seen over Estuary Boardwalk Trail at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge in Washington. Photo by Michael Schramm / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Facebook
The Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge will be changing its name to honor the late treaty rights activist Billy Frank Jr. Congress passed H.R.2270, the Billy Frank Jr. Tell Your Story Act, last month. The new law designates the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge and establishes the Medicine Creek Treaty National Historic Site to mark the signing of the 1854 Treaty of Medicine Creek, which Frank fought to protect through decades of work. “People will drive through the Nisqually area, a stone’s throw from where my dad was raised, and see my dad’s name for the rest of time,” Willie Frank, Billy’s son, told Oregon Public Broadcasting. “He’s never going to be gone." Signs are expected to go up this year, OPB reported. The change comes after President Barack Obama posthumously presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, to Frank, who died in May 2014. Frank was a member of the Nisqually Tribe. The tribe dedicated its new community building as the Billy Frank Jr. Community Services Center and observes March 9 -- Frank's birthday -- as "Billy Frank Jr. Day." Get the Story:
Puget Sound Wildlife Refuge Renamed To Honor Tribal Leader Billy Frank Jr. (Oregon Public Broadcasting 1/12)
Nisqually Tribe names center after Billy Frank Jr. (The Olympian 1/9)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Nisqually Tribe names community building in
Billy Frank's honor (1/7) Gyasi Ross: Billy Frank was a warrior for all of Indian Country (12/21)
House approves bill to rename wildlife refuge for Billy Frank Jr. (12/1)
Presidential Medal of Freedom presented to late Billy Frank Jr (11/25)
President Obama to award Medal of Freedom to Billy Frank Jr. (11/24)
White House honors the late Billy Frank with Medal of Freedom (11/17)
House Natural Resources Committee approves two Indian bills (10/08)
House Natural Resources Committee holds markup on Indian bills (10/07)
City moves to name street in honor of late activist Billy Frank (06/25)
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)
