In our meetings with the senior leadership of WDFW on Oct. 26th, (see petition update of Nov 5, 2017) we were told that open and transparent meetings in all process’ of the North of Falcon are vital, important and even necessary to trust and cooperation.

We were also told, short of asking the tribes for cooperation in allowing public oversight, there is nothing else WDFW can do. We know through public records and by admission of staff, the Department has repeatedly “asked” the tribes cooperation for years now.

Since they say there are no other options, we asked Director Unsworth and Chair Smith of the Commission to once again send a letter to Chair Loomis, asking her for cooperation in the spirit of building trust so we can move past this friction and start working together to save our fish.

Here is a copy of the letter which the Department says they sent.

November 15, 2017

Lorraine Loomis
Chair, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
6730 Martin Way East
Olympia, WA 98516

Dear Chair Loomis:
As I have discussed with you in the past, state constituents continue to request public participation or observation at North of Falcon meetings between the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Treaty Tribes. We have explained to those constituents repeatedly that federally-recognized tribes are legally sovereign governments, and as such are not subject to the state’s Administrative Procedures or Open Public Meetings Acts. WDFW undertakes our own extensive rule-making and public meetings process each year as part of North of Falcon, to make sure we meet the requirements of state law. In spite of that public process, there is mistrust from some of the public because our state-tribal co-managers meetings are not open to the public. I recognize that the tribes are reluctant to open meetings because of past experiences.

WDFW has raised the idea of allowing more public participation several times, and we continue to be interested in finding a solution agreeable to the tribes. Many of our constituents have expressed the desire to work cooperatively with WDFW and the tribes, but are frustrated that they cannot do so if excluded from our meetings. I am asking you to consider allowing participation by the public during our state-tribal North of Falcon meetings. WDFW’s suggestions to increase public participation include holding a plenary state-tribal meeting with public attendance and/or providing the public with audio or video recordings or broadcasts of the meetings. The simplest approach, and one that has worked in the past, is to allow a select number of observers in our meetings, using mutually agreeable ground rules for their involvement. Please consider trying this approach again or initiating some form of audio or video documentation to help us gain trust with the public.

Thank you for considering my request, and I look forward to working with you through North of Falcon again in 2018.

Sincerely,

James Unsworth, Ph.D.
Director


Although WDFW HAS sent similar letters in the past, they have not resulted in any positive progress. So, we wait. Wait and hope that this time the Tribal Leadership will recognize just how important we, the thousands of citizen sportsmen of Washington State hold open and transparent government and how vital trust and cooperation are to the recovery of our fisheries.

Chair Loomis and our tribal partners, we await your reply.