It’s another Fantastic Friday from Rep. Debra Lekanoff

As the warmth of summer lingers across the 40th District – from the tides of the San Juan Islands to the forests of Whatcom and the fields of Skagit – I am grateful for the privilege of serving you every single day. These past weeks have brought moments of connection, challenge, and clarity. Whether walking alongside tribal leaders in the field, meeting ferry workers on their home turf, engaging stakeholders on air and water quality, or listening to folks about the relentless budget pressures we face, every story echoes one truth: together, we are healing and strengthening our home.

Today’s newsletter dives deep into three vital areas where we’re forging the path forward:

WA Tribal Impact & State Budget Realities — exploring the profound partnership between our State and Tribal Nations amid growing economic pressures, and the importance of streamlining permits while fully respecting cultural and treaty rights.

Low Sulfur Fuel Bill & SRKW Stewardship — highlighting ongoing legislative work with Senator Lovelett, the Matriarch event, and the steps we’re taking to protect marine ecosystems, especially endangered Southern Resident orcas.

Salmon Preservation & the State of Salmon Update — sharing the latest report from the Governor’s office, the current state of salmon recovery, and what it means for our rivers, ecosystems, and communities.

As we engage in the Washington State Budget Crisis, I work to honor and acknowledge the partnership between the State of Washington and our 29 federally recognized tribes. This is not just a symbolic partnership – it is lived out daily in the services, investments, and stewardship that touch every community across our state.

Together, we share responsibility for:

• Co-management of natural resources to ensure salmon, shellfish, forests, and wildlife endure for future generations.

• Investments in K-12 education that lift up Native and non-Native students alike.

• Rural and urban economic development, where tribes are often the number one employer, providing jobs with fair wages, health insurance, retirement, and even childcare.

• Infrastructure partnerships, from roads and transportation corridors to utilities and broadband.

• Land management collaboration, working alongside DNR, State Parks, and WDFW to keep public lands resilient.

The Economic Power and Community Impact of Tribes 

A recent report from the Washington Indian Gaming Association and the Taylor Policy Group underscores the scale of this contribution. According to economist Jonathan Taylor, tribal governments and enterprises generated more than $7.4 billion in economic activity in 2023, supporting over 52,000 jobs across the state. 

• Tribes rank eighth in Washington for total number of employees, with more than 61% of those employees being non-Native.

• Wages and benefits totaled $1.9 billion annually.

• Tribal enterprises contributed $1.5 billion in state and local taxes.

• Importantly, tribes reinvest 100% of their enterprise revenues back into communities—funding schools, healthcare clinics, housing, infrastructure, law enforcement, and environmental restoration.

Unlike corporations that can relocate, tribal enterprises are deeply rooted in Washington’s lands and waters. They will never take operations or profits elsewhere. As Jamestown S’Klallam Chairman W. Ron Allen said:

“Washington has substantially benefited from the economic resurgence in Indian Country. Tribal enterprises enable us to invest in schools, healthcare, and public services that benefit all of Washington.”

Tribal contributions are not limited to economic output—they are acts of sovereignty in motion, strengthening both Native and non-Native communities.

• The Cowlitz Indian Tribe donated $6.6 million to nonprofits in 2023, supporting homelessness prevention, rural food security, and more.

• The Colville Tribes’ Fire Management program employs more than 60 people and suppresses most wildfires on or near their lands within the first 24 hours.

• The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community’s Didgwálič Wellness Center has become a national model for opioid treatment and recovery, serving over 500 clients—Native and non-Native alike—with childcare, transportation, and cost-free treatment for those in need.

This is sovereignty in practice: self-governance and economic self-sufficiency that benefit every Washingtonian.

Amid this record of impact, the state continues to wrestle with how to streamline permitting for infrastructure and energy projects. And here, the budget crisis intensifies the pressure.

But important questions remain:

• What happens when projects touch cultural sites, treaty fishing areas, burial grounds, or traditional use areas?

• How do executive agencies approach consultation? Is it agency-led, cooperative, or inconsistently applied?

• When a “finding” occurs, do mitigation steps actually resolve tribal concerns—or do they paper over harms?

One justification for faster permits is that many projects are located near “pre-impacted” sites—rail corridors, power lines, and industrial facilities built before today’s environmental laws. But assuming “no new impacts” ignores the reality that these same corridors often overlap with areas of cultural or ecological significance.

Tools for Progress

We cannot sacrifice cultural sovereignty in the name of efficiency. Instead, we must equip all parties with tools that honor both urgency and respect:

• Statutory early-notification triggers for projects overlapping with cultural or treaty-protected areas.

• Tribal-led cultural resource assessments, funded as a standard part of project budgets.

• Integrated agency-tribal permitting timelines—where consultation is part of the process, not an afterthought.

• Capacity investments for both state agencies and tribal governments to resource consultation.

These steps don’t just improve efficiency—they build trust, strengthen intergovernmental relationships, and ensure that when we say “One Washington,” we mean it.

Why It Matters for All Washingtonians

This is not just about sovereignty or economics in isolation—it is about ensuring that every Washingtonian has a place to call home in a state where:

• Waters are cool and clean,

• Forests are healthy and safe,

• Shorelines and sounds are alive with salmon, shellfish, and orcas, and

• Communities thrive with jobs, healthcare, housing, and cultural continuity.

The economic analysis confirms what many of us already know: when tribes prosper, all Washington prospers.

 Resources:

• Full Report: The Economic & Community Benefits of Tribes in Washington

• Executive Summary & Video Highlights

As part of my continued work alongside Senator Liz Lovelett, I am proud to share our collaboration on the Low Sulfur Fuel Bill (HB 1652 and SB 5519). This legislation is designed to reduce air pollution and improve water quality in our marine environments, protecting the health of our communities and ecosystems across Washington State.

Our efforts build upon a long history of legislative action supporting Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) recovery and environmental stewardship in the 40th Legislative District. Senator Lovelett and I are committed to ensuring our orca relatives, salmon runs, and shorelines remain healthy for generations to come.

This summer, we have been working with key stakeholders—including Friends of the San Juans, Earthjustice, the Seattle Port Commission, local ports, and the cruise ship industry—to ensure the legislation is comprehensive, fair, and effective. By bringing all voices to the table, we aim to craft laws that protect Washington’s natural resources while supporting responsible economic activity.

Legislative Actions to Protect Southern Resident Orca Whales

Washington State has taken a comprehensive approach to SRKW recovery, including:

• Orca Recovery Task Force (2018) – Governor’s Executive Order creating a framework for SRKW survival. Learn more here.

• ESSB 5577 (2019) – Expanded protections for Chinook salmon, the orcas’ primary food source. Bill text.

• HB 1579 (2020) – Southern Resident Orca Recovery Act, funding vessel-traffic reduction and habitat restoration. Bill text.

• HB 1114 (2021) – Reduced vessel noise and disturbance near orca pods. Bill text.

• SB 5371 (2021) – Addressed environmental stressors, climate impacts, and pollution. Bill text.

• SB 5466 (2025) – Requires vessels in Washington waters to use low-sulfur fuel, reducing pollution in critical orca habitat. Bill text .

Additional reports, such as the Department of Ecology’s Marine Spatial Planning Report, provide long-term strategies for marine ecosystem protection.

A Reflection: The Majestic Matriarchy

This work is not just about policy—it is about people, culture, and the living beings with whom we share these waters. At the recent Majestic Matriarchy event, we gathered in celebration of our orca relatives and the matriarchs who guide their pods. It was a reminder that recovery efforts are deeply tied to values of kinship, respect, and generational responsibility.

Watch the Hearings

• Check out my introduction of the bill at the House Committee on Environment & Energy hearing, and these testimonials from regional youth and Dr. Deborah Giles, Research Director for Wild Orca – Watch here.

By centering collaboration, culture, and science-based solutions, we continue to stand strong for our orca relatives, salmon, and the waters that sustain us all.

Salmon are more than a species—they are a lifeblood for our rivers, our tribal communities, our fisheries, and the Southern Resident orcas that rely on them. As your representative, I have made salmon recovery a top priority, building on years of collaboration with tribes, local communities, and regional partners to protect and restore habitat.

The challenges are real: over 70% of federally listed salmon and steelhead are still not recovering, and many runs are at historic lows. Habitat loss, climate change, and barriers in our rivers threaten not just the fish, but the ecosystems and communities that depend on them.

The Governor’s 2024 Salmon Strategy Update provides a roadmap for action across the state. Key priorities include:

• Protecting and restoring critical habitat – rivers, wetlands, and riparian areas that salmon need to survive.

• Investing in clean water infrastructure – ensuring rivers are cold, clean, and safe for fish.

• Removing migration barriers – fixing dams, culverts, and other obstacles to allow salmon access to spawning grounds.

• Building climate resiliency – protecting stream flows and cold-water refuges so salmon can adapt to a changing environment.

• Supporting balanced fisheries – aligning harvest, hatcheries, and hydropower with long-term recovery goals.

• Strengthening collaboration and science – coordinating across tribes, state agencies, and regional partners, guided by monitoring and research.

As we look to the upcoming legislative session, I will be focused on advancing policies and funding that align with these priorities. Salmon recovery is a long-term effort—it requires collaboration, science, and commitment. By protecting salmon, we honor treaty rights, sustain ecosystems, and support the cultural and economic well-being of communities across our state.

Salmon are Washington’s heritage and future. Together, we can ensure rivers remain full of life, communities stay resilient, and future generations can continue to celebrate the beauty and abundance of our natural world.

Resources:

• Governor’s 2024 Salmon Strategy Update – Executive Summary PDF

• State of Salmon Website

As summer shifts toward autumn, let us carry forward the land, water, heritage, and community that nourish us. Together, we’ll bridge partnerships, heal systems, and ensure our state remains vibrant, safe, and rooted in equity.

Thank you for being part of this journey—for the stories you share, the preservation you champion, and the future you insist upon.