The meeting, held in The Dalles, Ore., brought together approximately 75 people including 35 tribal fishers and numerous tribal leaders, attorneys and staff. Discussion centered on the concern of a lack of tribal enforcement, an increased presence of Oregon and Washington state law enforcement, and increased criminal activity along the Columbia River. The group discussed the meaning of sovereignty as the inherent authority of the people to make and enforce their own laws. Most of those present agreed upon the need for an increased expression of tribal sovereignty by the tribe on the Columbia River.

“We are in a very delicate situation,” said Virgil Lewis. “I am aware that there are concerns over Yakama’s involvement with CRITFC but the Yakama Nation needs to address the enforcement concerns plaguing the Columbia River. We have to keep our people safe. In order to do that, the Law and Order Committee is considering re-issuing law enforcement commissions to CRITFC Enforcement Officers, thereby making them an extension of Yakama’s own enforcement. This is needed so that Yakama courts will have jurisdiction over our tribal fishers, not state courts.”

Tribal Council Chairman Smiskin indicated that reassigning Yakama enforcement from the reservation to the Columbia River is not an option at this time due to limited resources and doing so would expose the reservation to more criminal activity.

The meeting was held at the request of Virgil Lewis after concerns were raised at the March 15 Yakama fishers’ meeting about harassment of tribal fishers by state game wardens.
“I am aware that there is a renewed presence of Oregon and Washington fisheries enforcement that is interfering with the treaty-reserved fishing activities. I take these issues very seriously,” said Paul Lumley, executive director of CRITFC. “If the tribe does not enforce their fishery, someone else will. For many years, our coordinated intertribal fisheries enforcement program was so successful that state enforcement was not necessary.”

Yakama has not commissioned CRITFC Enforcement Officers since 2003 due to concerns of Yakama’s involvement with CRITFC. Because of this, CRITFC Enforcement officers cannot cite Yakama fishers into Yakama courts for violations of Yakama codes. Approximately 75% of tribal fishers on the Columbia River are citizens of the Yakama Nation. An August 28, 2009 letter from Washington State Assistant Attorney General Fronda Woods admits Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife “has increased its patrols to compensate for the loss of law enforcement presence that was provided by CRITFE.” The letter states that Yakama tribal members are now referred to local state courts.

“We are not making this decision lightly on whether to re-issue enforcement commissions to CRITFC Enforcement officers. I want to be open and honest with the tribal community as we go through this deliberation process,” added Virgil Lewis.

CRITFC Enforcement Chief Davis Washines facilitated the historic meeting. “I strongly support re-issuing Yakama enforcement commissions, which are consistent with existing Yakama Nation Law and Order Codes,” Washines stated at the close of the meeting. “The Yakama Nation commissions many other non-Indian enforcement jurisdictions at the federal, state, county, and city levels. Why is it so difficult to commission a tribal enforcement program?”

The CRITFC Enforcement Program provides many services beyond enforcing tribal fishers, including the protection of archeological resources, emergency search and rescue, and issues citations of non-Indian sport fishers.

Some tribal fishers at the meeting supported issuing the enforcement commissions to CRITFC Enforcement while others expressed concerns over a General Council resolution that removed the Yakama Nation from CRITFC.

On the day after the historic meeting, some Yakama fishers capsized their boat on the Columbia River during dangerous weather conditions while performing ceremonial spring chinook fishing activities. One fisher was taken to the hospital and three others made it to safety. CRITFC Enforcement officers were first on the scene for the rescue operations.