Tribal leaders say WA state is ignoring treaty rights
In 2015, the state of Washington began investigating two enrolled members of the Tulalip Tribes for alleged illegal shellfish trafficking. More than six years later, the charges have been dismissed, but the men’s fish-buying business is shuttered, and they say broader concerns of state interference in tribal sovereignty remain unaddressed.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife investigation into Hazen Shopbell and Anthony Paul, who owned one of Puget Sound’s largest fish-buying operations, came amid complaints from non-Indigenous fish buyers about loss of business resulting from an alleged monopoly involving tribal fishers. While the resulting criminal charges didn’t produce any convictions, Shopbell and Paul say the ordeal led to the collapse of their business and ended a period of fairer prices for the crab and fish caught by Indigenous people.
The case officially concluded last month after Skagit County and state prosecutors declined to appeal a judge’s ruling dismissing the charges on treaty rights grounds. Now, tribal governments and treaty rights organizations in Washington are drawing attention to the case as an example of how, they say, the state isn’t fully respecting tribal sovereignty.
Shopbell said he is relieved that the prosecution is over, but, like others, he worries that he won't be the last example of Washington officials and agencies interfering with tribal citizens who want to exercise treaty rights. And despite the saga’s consequences for him, he believes his case has at least raised awareness about the issue.
Read more: https://crosscut.com/equity/2022/04/tribal-leaders-say-wa-state-ignoring-treaty-rights
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