Washington tribes

Washington has Petitioned for Rehearing/Rehearing En Banc in the Culverts Case

Ann Tweedy2 Comments

Here.

Previous coverage of the 9th Circuit panel decision is here.

UPDATE (8/23/16):

119-Idaho-Montana Amicus

121-Amicus filed

122-1-Amici motion from Klamath basin

122-2-Klamath basin amici brief

UPDATE (5/19/17):

Tribal Response

US Response

Catherine O’Neill on Washington Dept. of Ecology’s Draft Water Quality Standards and the District Court’s Order Enjoining EPA to Act

Ann Tweedy

Here.  Professor O’Neill provides a detailed and understandable summary of the many problems with Ecology’s draft standards and also explains EPA’s role and the District Court for the Western District of Washington’s recent decision.

The District Court’s decision in Puget Soundkeeper Alliance v. EPA is here: Puget Soundkeeper v EPA Order on Summary Judgment 8-3-16.

Complaint in Automotive United Trades Org. v. Friends of Bob Ferguson

Ann Tweedy

In this case, Automotive United Trades Organization seeks to prohibit political campaigns from accepting contributions from tribes on the theory that those contributions represent public monies and are therefore illegal under Washington law. The complaint is here.

The 9th Circuit has affirmed the Culverts decision & the treaty habitat right in W. Wash.

Ann Tweedy4 Comments

Download opinion in U.S. v. Washington (9th Cir. Jun 27, 2016) here.

The decision is unanimous. Congratulations to all who worked on it through the years and first and foremost to the Tribes who brought it.

Previous coverage and briefs here.

Kalispel Rest Area

Image Ann Tweedy

IMG_5078

Article on Washington Tribes & Marijuana

Ann Tweedy

Here.

Culverts Case Implementation

Video Ann Tweedy

Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) now has a website where you can learn more about their efforts to remove fish-blocking culverts. Facebook users can also access a time-lapse video of WDFW’s removal and replacement of a fish-blocking culvert pursuant to the district court’s order.

Treaty Rights in Washington Threatened by Lack of Progress in Recovering Salmon

Adrea Korthase1 Comment

Seattle Times AP article is here.

More information (including reports) here.

NPR: Indian Gaming Revenue Sharing Aids Local Governments in Washington

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is a link to the program. And the summary:

Some Native American tribes in Washington state are bailing out financially troubled local governments. Most native tribes are still among the poorest communities in the U.S. But in Washington, casino revenue has allowed tribes to make big donations to school districts and even to fund local government positions.