WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Farewell to a hero, a fighter, a friend

 Billy Frank Jr. was arrested in 1945, at age 14, for fishing on the Nisqually River that he and his people knew and loved as theirs. And then he spent the next 30 years fighting for justice.

Justice came in 1974 with the Boldt Decision, which restored to the federally recognized tribes the right to fish as they had been doing for more than a century. Since then, Frank continued advocating for tribal fishing rights and protection of natural resources, including salmon.

The news of his passing earlier today came as a shock to associates and friends who said he had been actively working and attending meetings as chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission all of last week.

His long fight for justice and environmental preservation included fish-ins, protests, lawsuits, more than 50 arrests, and overcoming personal tragedies.

In March 2011, in honor of his 80th birthday, Salmon Defense, a non-profit organization, established the Billy Frank Jr. Salmon Forever Fund to “honor and create permanence and action to the vision and work of Billy Frank Jr.”

Billy Frank Jr. received numerous awards in his lifetime, including the Common Cause Award for Human Rights Efforts, the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism, the American Indian Distinguished Service Award, the 2006 Wallace Stegner Award, and the Washington State Environmental Excellence Award.

The Washington House Democrats are saddened by the passing of a giant, but we join people throughout our state and nation in celebrating Billy Frank Jr.’s legacy of service to nature, personal courage, and commitment to justice.

Read more:

Statement from Governor Jay Inslee

Statement from Senator Patty Murray

Statement from Senator Maria Cantwell

Statement from Congressman Derek Kilmer

Statement from Congressman Adam Smitm

Statement from Former Congressman Norm Dicks

Statement from Cynthia Iyall, Chair of Nisqually Indian Tribe

Progressive Pulse: America has lost a giant

Seattle Times: Billy Frank Jr., Nisqually elder who fought for treaty rights, dies

Seattle PI: Billy Frank Jr.: Appreciating a Northwest civil rights legend

Spokesman Review: Billy Frank, tribal rights advocate, dies