Involve Tulalips from the start

I read with much interest the article “A player in tidal power.” This type of business could be good for both PUD and the general public; however, I was very upset when the article stated PUD hosted the meeting and invited certain groups and did not invite The Tulalip Tribes!

The article merely states, “the Tribes are concerned that it might interfere with fishing.”

This definitely is true, since the Western Washington Tribes’ entered into treaties we have always had to fight for our fishing rights, as the treaty grants us the “right” to fish in our usual and accustomed fishing areas and this includes Puget Sound.

Any business that infringes on waters the treaty covers, the Tribes need to be a party to the meetings. This has been determined throughout the court system, up to the Supreme Court!

I am a member of The Tulalip Tribes, and as a Tribe we have worked with the PUD on numerous cases that involve environmental issues for as long as they have been in business and could not believe it when Tulalip Tries was invited to the initial meetings to review this new program.

When the U.S. Navy negotiated to have their base constructed in Everett, Tulalip was involved from the beginning in the negotiates as it involved our fishing rights.

Tulalip Tribes need to be a party to negotiations from the beginning if in anyway the business “could” affect or infringe on our treaty fishing areas.

Virginia Carpenter

Tulalip Tribal Member