Boldt Decision and Native American Treaty Rights

Former Washington State Supreme Court Justice Gerry Alexander and Nisqually tribal member and activist Billy Frank Jr. talked about the Boldt Decision, which secured Native American’s fishing rights on the Puget Sound in the 1970s. Washington State claimed Native Americans' fishing activities were eroding the fish supply. The Native Americans argued they had a right to fish these lands under the Medicine Creek Treaty, signed in 1854. Mr. Alexander explained the origins of the treaty and the events leading to the Boldt Decision, and Mr. Frank shared his stories and thoughts on the civil rights issue.

C-SPAN’s Local Content Vehicles (LCVs) made a stop in their “2014 LCV Cities Tour” in Olympia, Washington, from January 13-16 to feature the history and literary life of the community. Working with the Comcast local affiliate, they visited literary and historic sites where local historians, authors, and civic leaders were interviewed. close