Hey Cracker;Yea iam one of those privleged whites also, ecept iam from the sixties growing up when i first got to the Puyallup.
Both my Dad and Mom had to work to keep food on the table and a roof over head. Yeah we are the lucky ones. Never had to eat Mac and Cheese all week long till the house payment got made.
I understand that they need the fish and deer and elk for ceremonial reason's to keep their hertiage alive and in the minds of the young, but it is the young whom are out fishing and where does the money go that they reap. It is suppose to go to the tribe in whole and be divided out equally, of course the fishier man gets a slightly higher amount. I will bet that almost none of the proceeds go to the tribes funds. I say this because unless someone can tell me that netting fish to sell wholesale is making a lot of mony, i think not. It is not a viable method to follow for the Indian Nations.
Go ahead with the smoke shops, fireworks, casino's and alchol sales, that is where the tribes make or break it.
Come on and join the real world, become part of the soltion and not the blame for the problem that now exist.
Nativeson, letty, honestly, do your people make enough money from netting fish to persue it as a function of tribal economy support?
Lets look at this way, cost of boat, motor, nets gear, time on water. repair cost upkeep, gas truck trailer, ok, no liscense for the trailer, but still have to maintain it. Add these cost into the profit from the fish sold at wholesale per pound. I just can not see it adding up to be something the is a profit making venture. And in these times, profit is what everyone, including the Native American Indians are trying to make. I agree, they need to make money, BIA, does not coer much help. Just look at the proverty on tribal lands, the lack of medical and education on tribal lands. Yeah the Puyallups have now got a brand new school for native and non native students. I know some people whom work there and it is a good school. But fishing did not pay for it, in fact, i helped pay for it out of my money which goes into the federal funds.
So iam not bashing indian rights, only indiscretion that it is not cost effective anymore. Thank you all.
elmtree (woody)

[This message has been edited by elmtree (edited 07-10-2000).]

[This message has been edited by elmtree (edited 07-10-2000).]