PROCLAMATION
OF THE
PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION
WHEREAS, the abundance of fish and wildlife have enabled the Indigenous Tribes
in the Pacific Northwest to thrive on resources such as salmon and shellfish since time in
memorial; and
WHEREAS, in 1854-1855 the United States Government signed treaties with
Tribes in Western Washington reserving their right to fish in “usual and accustomed”
fishing areas in exchange for ceding 90% of their land to make way for colonization by
settlers to the region; and
WHEREAS, the State of Washington prevented the Tribes’ from exercising their
treaty-reserved rights for many years resulting in Tribal fishers facing many challenges,
including citations and arrests for fishing in their usual and accustomed areas; and
WHEREAS, by the early 1960s, tribes only harvested between 2 and 5 percent of
the annual salmon and steelhead catch in Washington State which resulted in Tribal
leaders staging significant acts of disobedience known as “fish-ins” and “fish-wars”; and
WHEREAS, in the early 1970s, the United States Government successfully sued
the State of Washington in the seminal case United States v. Washington, which resulted
in direction to the State to regulate fishing in a manner that allowed full exercise of the
tribes’ reserved fishing rights; and
WHEREAS, on February 12, 1974, Judge George Boldt of the United States District
Court for the Western District of Washington issued his ruling in United States v.
Washington in favor of the United States on behalf of the tribes and created a significant
legal precedent regarding the enforceability of a treaty right; and
WHEREAS, Judge Boldt’s landmark ruling, now known as the Boldt Decision, was
re-affirmed by the United States Supreme Court in 1979, holding that the tribes reserved
the right to take up to 50% of the harvestable fishes in the areas the treaties covered; and
WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle recognizes the economic and cultural importance
of fishing and a healthy marine environment and how the steadfast work of the tribes to
protect and provide fish and shellfish benefits everyone; and
Agenda Item: 4a_revised
Meeting Date: February 13, 2024
WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle was founded in 1911 by a vote of the people as a
special purpose government to promote economic opportunities, and quality of life in the
region by advancing trade, travel, commerce and job creation in an equitable,
accountable and environmentally responsible manner; and
WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle conducts maritime operations within the
Suquamish and Muckleshoot tribal governments’ usual and accustomed fishing areas and
has been working to avoid and minimize conflicts between fishing and commercial
operations for many years; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the importance of the tribes’ treaty rights, the Port
has recently hired a tribal liaison to work with the Port and Commission to maintain
government-to-government relationships and to identify opportunities for greater
collaboration.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Port of Seattle Commission wishes to
join the tribes and many others in celebrating the 50
th
Anniversary of the Boldt Decision
and affirm commitment to sustaining our partnership with tribes to assure there are fish
and opportunities to fish, for future generations.
Proclaimed by the Port of Seattle Commission this thirteenth day of February, 2024.
Port of Seattle Commission
