Chairman’s Report
It was sad news in Indian Country
when we learned of the passing of Billy
Frank Jr. of the Nisqually Tribe. Billy was
a friend of all Tribes; he took on enormous
challenges for the sake of all of us. He was
successful in achieving many agreements
between Tribes and others.
I will always remember Billy as he
smiled and greeted me with hugs (as he
did everyone he greeted) and when he
came to visit our Restoration Celebration
a couple of years ago.
Tribes lost a real champion for treaty
rights. It will be difficult to fill his shoes.
Billy Frank, Jr. – 1931-2014
A Beloved Champion for Native
Peoples and a warrior for the Ages
From Richard Trudell and the American
Indian Resources Institute
I wish we were managing thirty years
before Judge Boldt issued his ruling in
’74 [upholding tribal rights to manage
fisheries]. I wish we had co-management
then. We might have been able to use the
treaties and our professionals back when
we really needed it.
But we do have that decision and it
gives us a chance. We’re the advocates
for the salmon, the animals, the birds, the
water. We’re the advocates for the food
chain. We’re an advocate for all of society.
Tell them about our life. Put out the story
of our lives and how we live with the land
and how they’re our neighbors. And how
you have to respect your neighbors and
work with your neighbors.
So what you do is, you do what you
can in your lifetime. Then that’ll go on to
another lifetime. Then another lifetime.
Then another.
Billy Frank, Jr. (2000)
AIRI Remembers Billy Frank, Jr.
It is with unspeakable sadness that
the American Indian Resources Institute
(AIRI) bids goodbye to our great ally and
dearest friend, Billy Frank, Jr.
Like all of Indian Country and
beyond, we share the pain of losing
one of the most inspired visionaries
and dedicated activists of our time. For
Indian Country, a key battle in the Civil
Rights era of the ’60s was fought in the
Northwest around Indian fishing rights
and Billy was in the eye of this storm for
decades, fighting until the battle was won.
His first arrest in the fishing struggle was
at age 14 and he was arrested dozens of
times more through his life.
In that epic battle, which resulted in
the Boldt Decision, he won more than
the victory for fishing rights, for he also
fought for the Indians’ right to live as
Indians. He fought for us, for the fish,
for the waters and for the natural world.
He was fighting for a better world and a
better place for us all.
A fierce fighter, Billy was also a
compassionate warrior. He was not inter-
ested in destroying someone but rather
in building something. He had the desire
and ability to form alliances and some of
his adversaries from the fishing wars ulti-
mately became his supporters. Through
the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commis-
sion (NWIFC), which he chaired, they
worked over 30 years to build alliances
in the restoration of the fish habitats so
important to his beloved salmon.
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Member of the Native American
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June 2014
File photo
Billy Frank Jr., Stanley Speaks, Delores Pigsley and John Echohawk at the Siletz
Tribal Restoration Celebration in 2010
He was a bridge builder and net-
worker, crisscrossing the country in
frequent travels to Washington, D.C.,
extending himself to speak with other
Native peoples waging similar struggles
from Maine to Alaska to Hawaii.
His activism was soon to go inter-
national, for at the Tribal Leaders Forum
meeting held recently in Hawaii, Nainoa
Thompson, Native Hawaiian navigator and
the president of the Polynesian Voyaging
Society, requested Billy to be present for the
Hokule’a canoe’s arrival in New Zealand as
part of the M lama Honua, the Hokule’a’s
historic world voyage from 2013-2017.
We are grateful to have known Billy
and to have traveled on the same road,
seeking justice for Indian Country. Billy
has been an ally and friend to AIRI for
many years. He was recognized by AIRI
with a Distinguished Achievement Award
in the early ’90s.
He was a dedicated participant in
AIRI’s Tribal Leaders Forums and in
his presentations always encouraged and
challenged Tribal leaders to fight the
good fight to protect our nations and our
treaty rights. Billy always said, “For our
Indian people, the only retirement is when
we meet the Creator. We’ve got to keep
working and meetings (forums) like this
help get the job done.”
The AIRI Tribal Leaders Forum Indian
Water 2014, coming up May 28-29, is one
that Billy urged us to convene. He was keen
on attending and “firing up” the Tribes to
address the looming water struggle, one
that he has been actively involved with in
the Northwest all his life. We plan to con-
tinue the effort with Billy as our inspiration.
In every generation, heroic individu-
als emerge who take on mythic propor-
tions beyond their own lives, who embody
the struggles of their time and whose quest
for justice forever impacts all future gen-
erations and the world we all share. Billy
Frank, Jr. was such a man.
It was truly a great privilege and an
immense pleasure to know Billy. We
extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family
and his nation and share in this great loss.
Information on the May 11, 2014,
services for Billy can be found on the
NWIFC website (nwifc.org).
“For our Indian people, the only
retirement is when we meet the Creator.
We’ve got to keep working and meetings
(forums) like this help get the job done.”
Billly Frank, Jr.
Nuu-wee-ya’ (our words)
Introduction to the Athabaskan language
Open to Tribal members of all ages
Siletz
Tribal Community Center
June 2 – 6-8 p.m.
July 7 – 6-8 p.m.
Portland
Portland Area Office
June 9 – 6-8 p.m.
July 14 – 6-8 p.m.
eugene
Eugene Area Office
June 3 – 6-8 p.m.
July 8 – 6-8 p.m.
Salem
Salem Area Office
June 10 – 6-8 p.m.
July 15 – 6-8 p.m.
Classes begin with basic instruction and progress over the year. They also
are a refresher course for more-advanced students. Come and join other members
of your community and Tribe in learning to speak one of our ancient languages.
We also have equipment in the Cultural Department available for use in
grinding and drilling shell or pine nuts or other applications. If you need to use
the equipment, call the number below to set up an appointment.
For more information, contact Bud Lane at the Siletz Cultural Department
at 541-444-8320 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1320; or email budl@ctsi.nsn.us.