I know many members of the Cowlitz Tribe. I have worked with Mr. John Barnett for the last 5 years on the relicensing of the Tacoma's Cowlitz River Project #2016. I am not advocating that the Indians should be allowed any new fishing rights on the Cowlitz.

With that being said, if it is to be, then the Cowlitz Tribe should be the ones who get them. Why do you think they have the name "Cowlitz Tribe"?

To date, every member of the Cowlitz Tribe that I have met, really cares about rebuilding our Cowlitz Fish runs. They (John Barnett) have stood by us "white folks" and gone hand-to-hand battle with us against Tacoma during the relicensing process. The Cowlitz Tribe, like other Non-governmental participanting parties have put hundreds of hours into seeing that Tacoma is not let off the hook in the next relicensing period.

Remember, It was rat face Tacoma Power who called in the Yakama Nation into the settlement Agreement process during the last year of a 6-year relicensing process.

It was rat face Tacoma who let the Yakama's get this into the Settlement Agreement; "Under authority of the Treaty of June 9, 1855, the Yakama Nation claims perpetual rights to harvest fish at usual and accustomed places ("U & A") within the upper Cowlitz River basin. NMFS, USFWS, and USFS have a trust responsibility to protect any treaty resources for the benefit of the Yakama Nation. In addition, the Yakama Nation claims a share of the total fisheries harvest within the entire Columbia River basin. Due to a lack of historical documentation, none of the Agencies currently recognize Yakama U & A within the upper Cowlitz River basin. By signing this Agreement, the Parties agree that the issue of the Yakama Nation's treaty fishing rights and harvest allocation is not resolved by this Agreement. However, the Agencies and the Yakama Nation agree to work together on a government-to-government basis to address the issue of recognition by the United States and the State of Washington of Yakama rights to harvest fish within the basin."

It was rat face Tacoma who called in the Yakama's to get the Cowlitz Tribe off their backs. The Cowlitz Tribe demanded volitional fish passage. The Yakama's kissed Tacoma A** and signed onto the Settlement Agreement without requiring any real meaningful fish passage.

At least the Cowlitz Tribe held to their word during the entire relicensing process. Mr. Barnett as publicly stated at numerous public meetings that the Cowlitz Tribe did not want to put any nets into the Cowlitz.

I hold him, as a man, at his word!

Believe me, if we have to have a tribe fishing in the Cowlitz, then the Cowlitz Tribe is the one we want doing it!

Like Salmo G. said, the tribes still have a long ways to go before any nets go into the Cowlitz, or it tributaries.

Cowlitzfisherman

Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????


[ 07-21-2001: Message edited by: cowlitzfisherman ]