Why is there so much hostility towards First Nations in Washington state?

[509]

Originally Posted by PrincessoftheCape

But that doesn't mean anything. The Gauls and Celts were 'there first' before the Romans arrived. But the Romans defeated both handily, and their land became part of the Empire. People these days may recoil in horror at the entire idea of it, but the old adage still holds true: might makes right. It's difficult to point to a location on Earth whose peoples haven't been displaced dozens of times over the course of history. Thus, I think treating the native populace of North America as some kind of special flower is duplicitous.

Well, as someone that ended up 12 time zones from my parents birthplace....I understand losing everything just because someone invents a "new religion".....Communism.

However, the Indians signed treaties with the US Government. Again, read the Constitution on what this means.

BTW.....when I became a US citizen and once again when I took a job as a Federal employee the oath of alligence I took was NOT to this country, not the President.......It was to the Constitution.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by bad apples

No I just read a forum on city data about tribal hunting rights posted in Tri Cities. I have also heard a lot of locals that talk trash about the tribes on a regular basis. I won't mention some of the things I have heard here.

Part of it relates to the federal court decision that gave them the right to 50% of the salmon run every year. With that also came the right to harvest shellfish from private beaches anywhere in the state. Led by US Senator Slade Gorton from Washington, non-Native salmon fishermen and their supporters defied the new federal law and refused to comply. It was a very hot topic for years. Probably some of that animosity remains, although the State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife now cooperates with the tribes in maintaining salmon stocks and salmon habitat, as required.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/salmon/co-management/

[Jumpindogs]

Originally Posted by TrueTimbers

Yep.... Least that is my experience... No more "hostility" than elsewhere... In my little corner of the Oly Pen. now, matter of fact their is significantly less than where I was in Northern Wisconsin.

IMO, until you have lived in an semi integrated community... one can not have a clue as to how deep and complex the issues run.

On a side note, I like how many tribes are taking some of their casino money and building/staffing real high quality health care facilities that serve the general public...

I will attest to that northern Wisconsin hostility...a hostility unfortunately fueled by the acts of a (hopefully) few, such as...the neighbor of a friend of ours who witnessed Indians dumping large numbers of speared fish as garbage onto his property. Fish that should've been allowed to live in order to ensure a healthy fish population and/or provide sport/food fishing opportunities for non-Indians but were speared and dumped why? JFF? Simply because they can and did even though there was obviously no food need? That's not sport fishing. Sport fishing in WI is generally either catch and release or catch and mount. Stories like this spread like wildfire in close knit northern WI communities and generate lots of resentment.

I agree on the health care facilities. Indian money is doing lots of good in many communities.