— from San Olson, Lopez Island —
To: Senators Cantwell and Murray and Representative Larson,
I am writing to let you know that I support the Lummi Nation’s persuasive request (Chairman Tim Ballew’s letter of 5 January 2015) that the Army Corps of Engineers deny all pending permits for the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point, WA.
Should this massive coal export facility be built, it will undeniably affect the Lummi Nation’s treaty rights and way of life. The Bolt Decision by the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the 1855 Treaty between the United States and the Lummi Nation granting “usual and accustomed” fishing rights to the Lummi Nation. Their cultural and economic survival, and ultimately their way of life are dependent on maintaining healthy stocks of salmon and shellfish in the marine waters bordering Cherry Point.
For too long our government has ignored the inherent rights of Native Americans. It is time our government keeps its promises to the Lummi Nation and all other tribes. We must honor those obligations and protect their historic fishing and hunting treaty rights. Many significant impacts to those treaty rights cannot be mitigated; therefore, the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal project should be abandoned before more costly studies and potential litigation is undertaken.
As my Senators and Representative, I ask you to urge the Army Corps of Engineers leadership to acknowledge and uphold the Lummi Nation’s treaty right to fish the waters of the Salish Sea and deny this unsuitable project. It has become increasingly clear to the citizens of Washington State that the economic, cultural and environmental costs of this proposed terminal significantly exceed any benefits to the Lummi Nation, State of Washington, the United States and even the planet.
May this request, and those of others, receive serious consideration and forceful action.
cc: Senator Maria Cantwell
Senator Patty Murray
Representative Rick Larson
Governor Jay Inslee
Senator Kevin Ranker
Representative Jeff Morris
Representative Christine Lytton
San Juan County Council
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Thank you, San!
Well said! I stand with Lummi and other First Nations’ treaty rights.