cohoangler,

I agree with your response. I don't understand how a Tribe could put a price on a religious ceremony. Even if it caused rain The tribes benefit from the hydro power just like every other resident of washington state, it is not as if they are living without the benefits of modern society.

I guess what upsets me the most is the Tribe which it came from. The Yakima nation Tribe are the major netting force in the columbia basin. They consistently take way more then they need and commercially sell the fish. They also control the runs on the Klickitat, and Yakima, which result in huge catches of fish.(I won't even go into the number of elk they butcher) Also the Yakimas and other tribes were already given concessions, when they were given 13% of the spring chinook. They didn't need to make a request for a ceremony funding, but they did. The spokes person for the tribe made it sound like it would negatively affect tribal-BPA relations if they didn't get the money(Playing the race card for money). It seems like they are rubbing the fact that they can do whatever the heck they want, in all of our faces.

[ 05-22-2001: Message edited by: Mike K ]