Since this is such a huge issue, I am going to post this same question on other fishing boards!

Isn't it about time for the tribes in Washington State to "walk the talk"?
Here's an idea that can help mend many a hard feelings between the white man and the Indian.

Since the Boldt decision, the tribes have been maximizing the benefits from the federal government and taking every advantage possible, such as getting grants to do habitat recovery work, etc., etc. on their Reservation lands

Well wouldn't it be noble statement from our Northwest American Indian Tribes to donate just one day worth of all of their "combined casino profits" to a special fish habitat recovery fund? Since the tribes have no problem in being entitled to harvesting 50% of the states harvestable fish, wouldn't it be noble for the tribes to actually give something back to nature instead of just taking it from her? We hear how much these fish mean to them culturally, but we never see them doing anything outside of their reservation to improve the fish's habitat.

Think of the money that could be generated in just one single 24 hour period? How many of you fishermen would go out for just one night of gambling and spend $50 or $100 bucks if you knew that "profit" from same money would good directly back into a special fish habitat restoration fund? Just think of the PR that it would give to the tribes. The tribes would not only benefit directly from the PR, they would also see the benefits from their 50% share of the returning harvestable fish.

I see lots of non profit groups each year that raise money for just such projects, but I do not ever recall seeing one single tribe make such an effort.

The funds could be co managed so that both tribal and non tribal habitat work could both receive the benefit.

Finally, I have been told that not all Casinos' on Tribal land are being run by the tribes. Some have private companies running them and all the financial gain is in jobs for tribe members. Never the less it would benefit them in PR far more then the one day in finical rewards could possibly do

So what do you think, could it be done?

Cowlitzfisherman