Tribal hunting bills introduced

[uplandhunter870]

I don't like em.

HOUSE BILL 1495
_____________________________________________
State of Washington 63rd Legislature 2013 Regular Session
By Representatives Sawyer, Liias, McCoy, Fey, Hunt, Riccelli,
Appleton, Santos, Dunshee, and Stanford
1 AN ACT Relating to access of tribal members to state lands; and
2 adding a new section to chapter 79.10 RCW.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
4 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 79.10 RCW
5 to read as follows:
6 The closure of any state lands, including any roads, maintained by
7 the department shall not restrict access by any member of a federally
8 recognized tribe to any open and unclaimed lands where the tribe has a
9 treaty right to hunt.

HOUSE BILL 1496
_____________________________________________
State of Washington 63rd Legislature 2013 Regular Session
By Representatives Sawyer, McCoy, Hunt, Appleton, Santos, Liias,
Riccelli, Dunshee, and Stanford
1 AN ACT Relating to hunting-related enforcement actions involving
2 tribal members; and adding a new section to chapter 77.15 RCW.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
4 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 77.15 RCW
5 to read as follows:
6 Upon presentation of a tribal identification card by a member of a
7 federally recognized tribe to a fish and wildlife officer or ex officio
8 fish and wildlife officer, the officer must immediately refer any
9 inspection, investigation, or other enforcement action related to the
10 hunting activity of the tribal member to the enforcement authority of
11 the tribe, if the activity occurred on any open and unclaimed lands
12 where the tribe has a treaty right to hunt.

This is the law now, federally, isn't it? The government protects Indians' rights to hunt on treaty lands.

as the treaties read, the treaties preserve the right to hunt and fish at traditional locations (ie deeded lands, reservations and accustomed hunting and fishing locations) they do not say anything about how those lands are to be accessed only that the tribes have a right to hunt and fish there in accordance with the tribal regs.

if i were a warden and was up in the hills and a group of tribal members got hacked off at me cause the gate was locked id say "tough, the treaties say i cant keep you off these lands and even if these new bills pass they say nothing about unlocking a gate for you only that i cant bar you access so get to walking"

these new bills dont say anything new that hasnt already been covered in the federal treaties and the court cases that involve the treaties, but im sure some political puke will extort them to a new level of BS

[bobcat]

Uplandhunter, you're right, but you know what the real intent of this is don't you?

6 The closure of any state lands, including any roads, maintained by
7 the department shall not restrict access by any member of a federally
8 recognized tribe to any open and unclaimed lands where the tribe has a
9 treaty right to hunt

To me the entire reason this was written is to allow the tribes to have keys to all gates on state land.

[CP]

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1495

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1496&year=2013

go to these links to comment on bills

you should also be able to get to the representatives who are dumb enough to support this crap 

Thanks for those links.  I signed up for an account an commented on both bills.  Everyone should take the time to do the same.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I just wrote something short and sweet ...you give all users the same means of access and then I will be a supporter of fairness to all involved ! 

[uplandhunter870]

Uplandhunter, you're right, but you know what the real intent of this is don't you?

6 The closure of any state lands, including any roads, maintained by
7 the department shall not restrict access by any member of a federally
8 recognized tribe to any open and unclaimed lands where the tribe has a
9 treaty right to hunt

To me the entire reason this was written is to allow the tribes to have keys to all gates on state land.

yeah i know exactly why the are being introduced, see my last sentence of my previous post, and yes i do honestly whole heartedly believe that a native voice is whispering in the ear of those supporting these bills in an effort to get keys to locked gates on state lands. im not saying that to start a fight or sound bigoted against natives but i think as long as access, of the non motorized flavor, is allowed behind locked gates then they should quit their whining. i mean lets face it everyone that was born in the US in the last 100 years is just as "native" as everyone else, ancestry is cool and shows us where we come from shouldnt be a defining variable in the rights granted to certain groups over others

[grundy53]

Huntnphool must have been making some progress about the roads.   Man this irritates me.

[mfswallace]

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1495

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1496&year=2013

go to these links to comment on bills

you should also be able to get to the representatives who are dumb enough to support this crap 

Thanks for those links.  I signed up for an account an commented on both bills.  Everyone should take the time to do the same.

It takes 2minutes everyone needs to comment!

[jackelope]

Signed up and commented. This is no good.

[CP]

My district Rep is a sponsor 

I sent him a personal message.

[mfswallace]

 
I just sent letters to all the sponsors, if you look at who's sponsoring this McCoy you'll see who is pushing it! and my 3 reps as well!!  Why WHy WHy do we need to continue to divide AMERICANS 

what's good for the Goose better be good enough for the Gander!!!

[BOWHUNTER45]

  man you nailed it ...give us all equal opportunity and no problem here ! 


especially now they have more money than most of us Americans 

[fireweed]

The bills are horrible.  But the wording "restrict access" is dangerous.  That could be defined as basically ANYTHING ANYWHERE.  Is a dug up road restricted access? Are rules that ATV's must stay on trails restricted access? What about any road closure for any reason?  BAD BAD BAD.  And what happend to that part of the treaties that says hunting is "in kind" with non-tribal members.

[jess]

well like i said a few months ago when everyone was pushing for gates that it is not the right way to fix the problem.. Well after these bills pass now us non natives cant acess public land except on foot and natives will be able to drive up there!! CAN I SAY I TOLD U SO NOW!!!

[LowRange]

 Correct if i am wrong,or am i?

 It has always been my understanding that there were never any elk in the Yakima area when the treaties were signed and that they were in fact brought here in rail cars from out of state.
 IF that is so then how can they claim rights to --harvest-- them at all, at the feeding stations no less as we all know?

 Some people that i know do say that they were here at that time but killed off,others such as myself am not sure of that. The Olympic herd yes i know that but the Yakima herd is not clear to me.
 Thanks in advance for some education to me on this.Sorry if this has been brought up before. I really would like to know the story.
 I know i havent said anything about the gates but i let you guess where i stand on that one!       

[huntnphool]

Huntnphool must have been making some progress about the roads.   Man this irritates me.

Thats right, they know the gates are a major issue and are trying to pre empt any attempt to restrict access. This bill is not just about the Entiat either, it would allow them unrestricted access behind any gate.

It's well past the time for everyone to get in the ears of your representatives. It shows you that those treaties do have holes, they are trying to fill one of those holes in with these bills.