Billy Frank Jr.: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 19:07, 9 March 2010

Billy Frank, Jr. is a Native American environmental leader and treaty rights activist born in 1931 to the Willie and Angeline Frank. A Nisqually tribal member, Frank is known specifically for his grassroots campaign for fishing rights on the tribe’s Nisqually River, located in Washington state in the 1960s and 1970s. He is also known for promoting cooperative management of natural resources. ^[1]

Tribes reserved the right to fish, hunt and gather shellfish in treaties with the U.S. government negotiated in the mid-1850s. But when tribal members tried to exercise those rights off-reservation they were arrested for fishing in violation of state law.

Frank was arrested more than 50 times in the 1960s and 1970s because of his intense dedication to the treaty fishing rights cause. The tribal struggle was taken to the courts in U.S. v. Washington, and Judge George Boldt found in favor of the Indians in 1974. The Boldt Decision established the 20 treaty Indian tribes in western Washington as co-managers of the salmon resource with the State of Washington and re-affirmed the tribal right to half of the harvestable salmon returning to western Washington. ^[2]

Today Frank is chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, a position he has held for more than 30 years.

NWIFC

The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission was created in 1975 to support the natural resource management activities of the 20 treaty Indian tribes in western Washington. The NWIFC is based in Olympia, Wash., with satellite offices in Forks and Mount Vernon. Frank has chaired the NWIFC since 1981. The commission’s 65-person staff supports member tribes in efforts ranging from fish health to salmon management planning and habitat protection. The NWIFC also acts as a forum for tribes to address issues of mutual concern, and as a mechanism for tribes to speak with a unified voice in Washington, D.C.^[3]

Titles

Billy Frank, Jr. has held several different titles his career.

1975-1988 - Fisheries Manager, Nisqually Indian Tribe.

1977, 1981-Present - Chairman, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC).

1977-Present - Commissioner, Medicine Creek Treaty Area in the NWIFC.

1996-2003 - Member of Board of Trustees of The Evergreen State College.^[4]

Awards

Common Cause Award (1985), for his human rights efforts

Washington State Environmental Excellence Award (1987), on behalf of the State Ecological Commission and other tribes.

American Indian Distinguished Service Award (1989)

Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Service Award (1990), for humanitarian achievement

Albert Schweitzer Prize (1992), for humanitarianism

American Indian Visionary Award (2004), from Indian Country Today for “exceptional contributions to Indian American freedom.”^[5]

Footnotes

^ "Interior Secretary Norton Honors Cooperative Conservation Partnership at Nisqually River Watershed." Interior Department. 25 Aug. 2005 <http://www.interior.gov/news/05_News_Releases/050826.htm>.
^ "Billy Frank, Jr." Institute for Tribal Government. Portland State University. 2 Dec. 2008 <http://www.tribalgov.pdx.edu/bio_frank.php>.
^ "Billy Frank, Jr." Institute for Tribal Government. Portland State University. 2 Dec. 2008 <http://www.tribalgov.pdx.edu/bio_frank.php>.
^ "Biography- Billy Frank, Jr." American Indian Law. The Evergreen State College. 3 Dec. 2008 <http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/americanindianlaw/billy%20frank%202004%20bio.doc.>
^ "Biography- Billy Frank, Jr." American Indian Law. The Evergreen State College. 3 Dec. 2008 <http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/americanindianlaw/billy%20frank%202004%20bio.doc.>

External Links

[1] "Interior Secretary Norton Honors Cooperative Conservation Partnership at Nisqually River Watershed." Interior Department. 25 Aug. 2005 <http://www.interior.gov/news/05_News_Releases/050826.htm>.

[2] "Billy Frank, Jr." Institute for Tribal Government. Portland State University. 2 Dec. 2008 <http://www.tribalgov.pdx.edu/bio_frank.php>.

[3] "Billy Frank, Jr." Institute for Tribal Government. Portland State University. 2 Dec. 2008 <http://www.tribalgov.pdx.edu/bio_frank.php>.

[4] "Biography- Billy Frank, Jr." American Indian Law. The Evergreen State College. 3 Dec. 2008 <http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/americanindianlaw/billy%20frank%202004%20bio.doc.>

[5] "Biography- Billy Frank, Jr." American Indian Law. The Evergreen State College. 3 Dec. 2008 <http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/americanindianlaw/billy%20frank%202004%20bio.doc.>

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Billy Frank, Jr.''' is a [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] born in 1931 to the Nisqually tribe.  He is known specifically for his grassroots campaign for fishing rights on the tribe’s [[Nisqually River]], located in [[Washington state]].  In the 1960s and 1970s, his political fight against state fishing regulations over the Indians resulted in over 50 arrests, showing his intense dedication to the fishing cause.  Frank’s struggle was taken to the courts in the case U.S. v. Washington, and Judge Boldt found in favor of the Indians in 1974, deciding that the original tribal treaty allowed the Indians to bring in one half of the salmon that were in their off-reservation fishing areas.<ref>"Billy Frank, Jr." Institute for Tribal Government. Portland State University. 2 Dec. 2008 <http://www.tribalgov.pdx.edu/bio_frank.php>.</ref>
+'''Billy Frank, Jr.''' is a [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] environmental leader and treaty rights activist born in 1931 to the Willie and Angeline Frank.  A Nisqually tribal member, Frank is known specifically for his grassroots campaign for fishing rights on the tribe’s [[Nisqually River]], located in [[Washington state]] in the 1960s and 1970s. He is also known for promoting cooperative management of natural resources. <ref>"Interior Secretary Norton Honors Cooperative Conservation Partnership at Nisqually River Watershed." Interior Department. 25 Aug. 2005 <http://www.interior.gov/news/05_News_Releases/050826.htm>.</ref>
+Tribes reserved the right to fish, hunt and gather shellfish in treaties with the U.S. government negotiated in the mid-1850s. But when tribal members tried to exercise those rights off-reservation they were arrested for fishing in violation of state law.
+Frank was arrested more than 50 times in the 1960s and 1970s because of his intense dedication to the treaty fishing rights cause. The tribal struggle was taken to the courts in U.S. v. Washington, and Judge George Boldt found in favor of the Indians in 1974. The Boldt Decision established the 20 treaty Indian tribes in western Washington as co-managers of the salmon resource with the State of Washington and re-affirmed the tribal right to half of the harvestable salmon returning to western Washington. <ref>"Billy Frank, Jr." Institute for Tribal Government. Portland State University. 2 Dec. 2008 <http://www.tribalgov.pdx.edu/bio_frank.php>.</ref>
+Today Frank is chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, a position he has held for more than 30 years.
 ==NWIFC==
-In 1975, the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission was formed in order to give the sporadic Indian fishing struggles a unified center.  Along with protecting Indian fishing rights, the commission also serves to manage the fishing habitats.  This commission is important because it reflects cooperation between the state governments and the tribes, and although it was not without its challenges, the commissions establishment alone promoted efforts across the country for Native American activists who wanted to unify their causes.  Frank has been the chairman of this commission for over 20 years, and has dedicated the group to protecting the salmon resource and fishing for both Native Americans along with all other ethnic groups. Frank has used his leadership ability to involve himself in environmental protection areas such as the Timber-Fish-Wildlife Agreement, the Chelan Agreement about water resource planning, and the Centennial Accord.<ref>"Billy Frank, Jr." Institute for Tribal Government. Portland State University. 2 Dec. 2008 <http://www.tribalgov.pdx.edu/bio_frank.php>.</ref>
+The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission was created in 1975 to support the natural resource management activities of the 20 treaty Indian tribes in western Washington. The NWIFC is based in Olympia, Wash., with satellite offices in Forks and Mount Vernon.  Frank has chaired the NWIFC since 1981. The commission’s 65-person staff supports member tribes in efforts ranging from fish health to salmon management planning and habitat protection. The NWIFC also acts as a forum for tribes to address issues of mutual concern, and as a mechanism for tribes to speak with a unified voice in Washington, D.C.<ref>"Billy Frank, Jr." Institute for Tribal Government. Portland State University. 2 Dec. 2008 <http://www.tribalgov.pdx.edu/bio_frank.php>.</ref>
 ==Titles==
-Billy Frank, Jr. has held several different titles throughout his activist efforts.
+Billy Frank, Jr. has held several different titles his career.
--1988- Fisheries Manager for the Nisqually tribe.
+-1988 - Fisheries Manager, Nisqually Indian Tribe.
-, 1981-Present- Chairman, Spokesperson of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC).
+, 1981-Present - Chairman, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC).
--Present- Commissioner for the Medicine Creek Treaty Area in the NWIFC.
+-Present - Commissioner, Medicine Creek Treaty Area in the NWIFC.
--2003- Member of Board of Trustees of The Evergreen State College.<ref>"Biography- Billy Frank, Jr." American Indian Law. The Evergreen State College. 3 Dec. 2008 <http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/americanindianlaw/billy%20frank%202004%20bio.doc.></ref>
+-2003 - Member of Board of Trustees of The Evergreen State College.<ref>"Biography- Billy Frank, Jr." American Indian Law. The Evergreen State College. 3 Dec. 2008 <http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/americanindianlaw/billy%20frank%202004%20bio.doc.></ref>
 ==Awards==
-Because of his unstoppable devotion to Native American causes, and his successful fight for fishing rights, Frank  has been celebrated as an Indian leader and hero.  This has led to many recognitions and honors.
--Frank receives Common Cause Award for his human rights efforts
+Common Cause Award (1985), for his human rights efforts
--Frank receives Washington State Environmental Excellence Award on behalf of the State Ecological Commission and other tribes.
+Washington State Environmental Excellence Award (1987), on behalf of the State Ecological Commission and other tribes.
--Frank receives American Indian Distinguished Service Award
+American Indian Distinguished Service Award (1989)
--Frank receives Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Service Award for Humanitarian Achievement
+Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Service Award (1990), for humanitarian achievement
--Frank receives Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism
+Albert Schweitzer Prize (1992), for humanitarianism
--Frank receives American Indian Visionary Award from Indian Country Today for “exceptional contributions to Indian American freedom.”<ref>"Biography- Billy Frank, Jr." American Indian Law. The Evergreen State College. 3 Dec. 2008 <http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/americanindianlaw/billy%20frank%202004%20bio.doc.></ref>
+American Indian Visionary Award (2004), from Indian Country Today for “exceptional contributions to Indian American freedom.”<ref>"Biography- Billy Frank, Jr." American Indian Law. The Evergreen State College. 3 Dec. 2008 <http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/americanindianlaw/billy%20frank%202004%20bio.doc.></ref>
 ==Footnotes==
 {{reflist}}
-==References==
+==External Links==
+*[http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8929 Historylink.org, Billy Frank Jr.]
+*[http://books.google.com/books?id=Ex0jeeK3CPwC&dq=messages+from+frank%27s+landing&source=gbs_navlinks_s Messages from Franks Landing]
 *[http://www.tribalgov.pdx.edu/bio_frank.php Institute for Tribal Government, Billy Frank Jr.]
 *[http://www.facebook.com/pages/Billy-Frank-Jr/113618251736?v=wall Billy Frank Jr. on Facebook]