I want to make sure everyone knows that Auntie and I are on exactly the same page on this (let's try to watch that; I don't want the internet exploding or anything).

One of the reasons I should have been more careful in my use of language is that the last thing I want to do is encourage tribal bashing and/or race baiting (which, let's face it, there's evidence of on this and other fishing boards from time to time).

When WT opposes tribal positions on hatcheries or harvest, we have a responsibility to make clear that we are not trying to oppose their rights, just the details of specific management decisions. We also have a responsibility to be careful about legitimate tribal sensitivities, a lot more careful than I was the other night.

Let me put it this way. Despite what some on this board appear to believe, WT is in fact very open to alliances with people and organizations on issues where we agree, even if we have fundamental disagreements on other issues. But there are some "friends" we neither want nor need. We have absolutely no tolerance for bigotry, or for people who think its too much trouble to understand and accomodate tribal sensitivities that are borne of cultural difference and historical injustice.

Ramon Vanden Brulle,
Washington Trout