RT

Can't argue with you there, but still I think you are equating the Treaties with this issue of past wrongs, kind of like affirmative action, which States are rejecting left, right, and center. That this 'unfair' situation has been allowed to linger into the 21th century because of what happened in the past. I don't agree with this.

What we have is a treaty, which is the law. It doesn't matter how old it is. I'm sure we have treaties on the books with other nations that are older, with every expectation that their tenents will be upheld by both countries.

What I believe is that the Treaties are now being incorrectly interpreted because of ESA listings. And this is where the sporty fight should be.

If you believe that the 50/50 thing is also unfair (which I can't disagree with given the pop'n of Indians), I also think that unilaterally overturning the law would be unconstitutional and not what we are about as Americans.

With that said, I can't help but think that both the salmonid resource and Indians would be better off with a settlement offer, kind of like what was offered to the Colvilles for the Grand Coulee Dam, in exchange of course for no more 50/50. Ultimately, I think this would provide more incentive for the Indian Nations to assimilate into the rest of America, which has substantially more of an economic base to support people. But assimilation as a goal may not be what the Indians want, and although we may disagree with them, ultimately I think we have to respect their wishes. Actually, the Treaties force us to respect them, because as I said, its the law.

I guess my point is, no one likes to be forced into decisions. Modifying the treaties for the good of the resource will take large scale negotiations with our leadership and the leadership of multiple tribes, and what should be negotiated is not salmon, but whats best for Indian Nations as a whole. Because even if the Boldt Decision gave tribes all the fish, it would not raise Tribal economies such that they could provide for all in the tribe.

What would be necessary is to negotiate a comfortable assimilation into America, which means they can retain cultural things like any other ethnic group, but be restricted under the same laws. I'm not advocating any type of social welfare, thats already a big problem on reservations, but a series of economic incentives, and inexchange, no more treaties.

Thats one hell of a big task, and evidently, not something the Tribes or non-Tribal politicos are willing to do.

Sorry to ramble, but this issue just gets the brain cells going....