Washington Indian Tribes Today - page 5

SUSTAINING THEENVIRONMENT
ANDNATURALRESOURCES
Tribal environmental andnatural resourceprograms
play a critical role inefforts to restore andprotect
important cultural and natural resources. Tribal
governments employ experts and scientists in all
disciplines. Their work includeswatershedplanning,
water quality programs, environmental education,
environmental assessments, salmon recovery
programs andmore.
Tribal natural resourceprograms play an important
role inbalancing the sustainable harvest of
salmon, game, timber andother resourceswith
environmental restoration and theprotectionof
sensitive species and habitats.
Washington’s richnatural resources provide
thousands of jobs for tribal members and non-
tribal members alike. NativeAmerican tribes
are committed tomaking investments in smart
natural resourcemanagement practices so that
resources can thrive andbe available to all for future
generations.
WILL 100-POUND SALMONRETURN?
Legend has it that
mighty salmonweighing
asmuch as 100pounds
returned to spawnon
theElwhaRiver. Salmon
returning from the
ocean had tobebig
and strong to swim up
the fast-moving river
to spawning areas. In
the early 1900s, two
damswerebuilt on the
river. Thedams fueled
economic growth,
but blocked salmon
migration and flooded
the historic homelands
and cultural sites of the
Lower ElwhaKlallam
Tribe. After twodecades
of planning, the largest dam removal inU.S. history
began in2011. Today, theElwhaRiver once again
flows freely from its headwaters in theOlympic
Mountains to theStrait of Juande Fuca. And salmon
andother fish andwildlife are returning!
Washington’s tribal governments operate 51 salmon
hatcheries and areworkingwithgovernment
agencies to removebarriers to fish andwildlife
habitat.
BILLYFRANK JR. NISQUALLY
NATIONALWILDLIFEREFUGE
Tribal governments, in collaborationwith state and
federal agencies and conservation interests, are
working to restore fish andwildlife habitat. The
Nisqually estuarywas restored in 2009by removing
dikes and reconnecting 762 acreswithPuget Sound.
This is the largest estuary restorationproject in
thePacificNorthwest and an important step in the
recovery of Puget Sound.
Theproject was named in honor of Billy Frank Jr., a
Nisqually tribal member who achieved international
prominence.
“WhenBilly Frank Jr. told his story, hewas a
fisherman trying todowhat was right. But in the
story of our state, he is a leader who inspired a
movement for justice, anddedicated his life to
collaboratingwithothers inorder to safeguardour
environment for everyone.”
U.S. Rep. DennyHeck
InNovember 2015, Billy Frank Jr. was posthumously
awarded thePresidentialMedal of Freedomby
President BarackObama.
Tribeswith reservations on andnear othermajor
rivers – Snohomish, Skokomish, Stillaguamish
and Skagit, for example – are also involved in
collaborative efforts to restore estuaries.
PORTGAMBLEBAYCLEANUP
ANDRESTORATION
ThePort GambleS’KlallamTribe, the state
Department of Ecology andothers are collaborating
on cleanup and restorationof Port GambleBay.
PopeResources is funding the cleanupof this former
timbermill site. The statehas purchased500 acres
of protected lands, including approximately two
miles of shorelineonPort GambleBay. This has
been transferred toKitsapCounty. Additional state
funds havebeen slated for shoreline and upland
acquisition.
Eelgrass is being restored in thebay toprovide
habitat for herring, juvenile salmon and crab.
Eventually, thebaywill support fivemillionOlympia
oyster seeds spreadover 10 acres of tidelands.
VISITA TRIBALMUSEUM
• BurkeMuseum (Seattle):
• Daybreak Star IndianCultural Center:
• ColvilleTribalMuseum (CouleeDam):
_
museum.php
• MakahMuseum&Cultural ResearchCenter
(NeahBay):makahmuseum.com
• TheHibulbCultural Center
• Squaxin IslandMuseum (Shelton):
squaxinislandmuseum.org
• SuquamishMuseum (Suquamish):
• YakamaNational Cultural HeritageCenter
(Toppenish):
GO TOAPOWWOW
• Seafair IndianDays PowWow:
July at DayBreak Star IndianCultural Center
• SuquamishChief SeattleDays: August
• Lummi StommishWater Festival: June
• MakahDays: August
• QuileuteDays: July
• NisquallyWatershed Festival: September
• Yakama TreatyDays Parade: June
SEEENVIRONMENTAL
RESTORATION INACTION
• Billy Frank Jr. NisquallyNationalWildlife
Refuge:
• ElwhaDamRestoration:
projects.seattletimes.com/2016/elwha
• SkokomishWildlifeArea: wdfw.wa.gov/
lands/wildlife_areas/south_puget_sound/
Skokomish
PhotobyWashingtonStateDepartment of Ecology
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| SUNDAY,
OCTOBER 16, 2016
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