By Hailey Palmer, Puyallup Tribal News
The Puyallup Tribal community gathered at the Youth Center Saturday, Sept. 7, to commemorate and recognize the 50-year mark of the Boldt Decision with a Fishing Wars Memorial.
The event began with drummers, singers and dancers performing before current and past leaders of the Tribe, and Tribal Members spoke of the importance of preserving treaty rights.
Here is an excerpt of what each Tribal Council Member said. A video of the full event with each speaker can be found on the Puyallup Tribe’s YouTube page.
Vice Chairwoman Sylvia Miller
“These stories that are going to be told today, you need to carry them, and keep carrying them. Without them being told, our children will never learn. … My one grandson right here was asking, ‘What are the Fishing Wars?’ and I was explaining to him that my grandparents, my ancestors, family members before me fought so that we could fish, and they were beaten up, pulled out of boats, gassed and all kinds of other things because they didn’t want us to do that. … I hope that each and every one of (the kids) listen and understand how important this day is.”
Councilwoman Monica Miller
“The Fishing Wars have been going on for years. We have been fighting and fighting for our land, our fish, our rights, and we’re going to continue that year after year, generation after generation. It means a lot to us. This is our land, this is our water, this is our fish. We are Native, and we will stand together, and we will fight together. I want to say thank you to you all. … Fifty years ago, me and Sylvia were introduced to Ramona (Bennett). We have known each other for 50 years. We have been working for this Tribe for 50 years. We have been building this, all of us. … We have all been here working for 50 years. That’s a generation in its own. Fifty years is a long time and I’m glad to know Ramona for 50 years and everybody else.”
Councilman James Rideout
“When I was a little child I used to wonder why my parents would leave at night. I was really worried about them. … It wasn’t until I began to realize around 1972 or 1973 what was really going on. I used to ask my mom and I used to ask my dad, ‘How come our people are angry? How come they’re upset? How come they’re fighting?’ They said because they’re fighting for what they believe in. They’re fighting for our existence and for things taken from us that never should have been taken. I remember in 1974 at 4 years old the sensation and the feeling of victory with the Boldt Decision. … As I got older I thought about, ‘What if they didn’t win that war? What if they didn’t win that court case? Where would be as a Tribe today?’ I’ve thought about that my whole life. They did this for us. They wanted us to have a sustainable way of life.”
