Billy Frank, Jr., fighter for tribal fishing rights, dies at 83
The man who led a modern day battle with the federal government to retain fishing rights for American Indians has died in Washington State.
Billy Frank Jr., was 83, and his death was announced by the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and the Nisqually Tribe near Olympia, Washington.
"Billy was a champion of tribal rights, of the salmon, and the environment. He did that even when it meant putting himself in physical danger or facing jail," Gov. Jay Inslee said in a written statement.
Frank's lifelong fight for what had first been guaranteed by earlier treaties began in the 1940s and resulted in the 1974 decision by a U.S. district judge that the old treaties should be honored and the tribes had the right to one half of the fish harvest.
White society's image of the native people was improved by the work of Frank during his fight, although he was arrested more than 50 times while staging events to make their case.
Generations of people have benefited from his efforts and he will be remembered as a successful leader for what is right. His passion for the cause continued and recently had been pushing for a cleaner river environment to protect the health of those who eat locally caught fish.
