Letter Regarding Colockum Elk - The Reel News "The Tribes Killed Elk"

[logger]

Whe worked up  on darland mt. once. they dnr  had just taken out 7 culverts into greens pocket , we could have put a couple of brush buggys in there bout oh know we had to check with the f.s. to see if it would be alright . well long story short it was't all right

[bobcat]

What's a brush buggy?

[logger]

A brush buggy is a unit than no matter what can be drove or pushed into a active fire zone to help save the the ground guys.

[NCWCracker]

I just sent this letter to Senator Linda Evans Parlette, 12th Legislative District;

Hello Senator Parlette,

The tribal hunting abuses of the Colockum elk herd continue to get worse every year.  Recently an article was published by John Fulwiler on “The Reel News”; December 2008 issue.  It has been posted on Hunt Washington in a discussion, and many of us in this State are fed up with the abuses and mis-management of the herd, and would like to see changes ASAP. 

The WDFW appears to be more concerned with political correctness than with trying to right a wrong.  The Yakama Tribe is not working to control hunting abuses on elk in the Colockum.  The WDFW Elk Mgt. statement for the Colockum area indicates that the Yakama Tribe is to assist in the management and share harvest data, etc.  From what I’ve heard, this is not happening. 

Please take the time to read John Fulwiler’s article.  It is indicated that close to 50 branched antlered bulls were harvested by the Yakama’s from the Colockum area in 2008.  The total number of elk harvested by them must be a substantially greater number. 

The Yakama’s website in regard to hunting this area indicates that they are to hunt for sustenance and ceremonial purposes only. 
As taken direct from their website (http://www.ynwildlife.org/pdf/yakamahuntingrights.pdf) 

  “Members of the Yakama Nation, and other tribes, hunt throughout their
ancestral lands in Washington State for the purpose of gathering meat for sustenance and ceremonial purposes. It is not the custom of tribal people to hunt or gather food for sport or leisure, but is instead a traditional and cultural activity that is needed to provide food for funerals, memorials, name givings, food feasts, and family dinners. On the reservation and ceded areas, these laws and rights override the jurisdiction of the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife.”

We all know that they are more often hunting for trophy elk and very often, selling the antlers for substantial profit.  There are rumors of many of them driving closed roads, hunting on the Game Reserve, and hunting at night.  These activities are clearly; legally, ethically, and morally wrong.

I know that if someone were to document this abuse of treaty rights with video, and slip it to the mass media, there would be huge public outcry.  What also needs to be done, because it sounds to me like the Yakama’s treaty rights in regard to hunting the area will not likely go away; is that WDFW and the Yakama’s need to be forced to sit and come up with a workable, enforceable management plan for that area which will stop the blatant tribal hunting abuses.  Currently, they are threatening this resource for everyone – it is a sickening thought.

Something needs to be done before the herd is completely decimated, and/or someone takes matters into their own hands against these tribal hunters.  We as taxpayers are paying to have that area’s game managed, and currently, the Yakama Tribal hunters are undermining all efforts in a very significant way.  What are your suggestions for solving this problem?  What would you suggest to best draw attention to this issue?

Sincerely,


     Senator Parlette's email address is:  parlette.linda@leg.wa.gov

If you like, copy this letter and send it to Senator Parlette, and/or other politician of your choice.  If you think this is a good letter, maybe start a new thread to get more exposure on this site? 

[loveipabeer]

Please copy and paste this letter (change verbage if you want) into an email and then send it to the email address below. Thanks for everybody's help!

Senator Parlette's email address is:  parlette.linda@leg.wa.gov

Hello Senator Parlette,

The tribal hunting abuses of the Colockum elk herd continue to get worse every year.  Recently an article was published by John Fulwiler on “The Reel News”; December 2008 issue.  It has been posted on Hunt Washington in a discussion, and many of us in this State are fed up with the abuses and mis-management of the herd, and would like to see changes ASAP. 

The WDFW appears to be more concerned with political correctness than with trying to right a wrong.  The Yakama Tribe is not working to control hunting abuses on elk in the Colockum.  The WDFW Elk Mgt. statement for the Colockum area indicates that the Yakama Tribe is to assist in the management and share harvest data, etc.  From what I’ve heard, this is not happening. 

Please take the time to read John Fulwiler’s article.  It is indicated that close to 50 branched antlered bulls were harvested by the Yakama’s from the Colockum area in 2008.  The total number of elk harvested by them must be a substantially greater number. 

The Yakama’s website in regard to hunting this area indicates that they are to hunt for sustenance and ceremonial purposes only. 
As taken direct from their website (http://www.ynwildlife.org/pdf/yakamahuntingrights.pdf) 

  “Members of the Yakama Nation, and other tribes, hunt throughout their
ancestral lands in Washington State for the purpose of gathering meat for sustenance and ceremonial purposes. It is not the custom of tribal people to hunt or gather food for sport or leisure, but is instead a traditional and cultural activity that is needed to provide food for funerals, memorials, name givings, food feasts, and family dinners. On the reservation and ceded areas, these laws and rights override the jurisdiction of the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife.”

We all know that they are more often hunting for trophy elk and very often, selling the antlers for substantial profit.  There are rumors of many of them driving closed roads, hunting on the Game Reserve, and hunting at night.  These activities are clearly; legally, ethically, and morally wrong.

I know that if someone were to document this abuse of treaty rights with video, and slip it to the mass media, there would be huge public outcry.  What also needs to be done, because it sounds to me like the Yakama’s treaty rights in regard to hunting the area will not likely go away; is that WDFW and the Yakama’s need to be forced to sit and come up with a workable, enforceable management plan for that area which will stop the blatant tribal hunting abuses.  Currently, they are threatening this resource for everyone – it is a sickening thought.

Something needs to be done before the herd is completely decimated, and/or someone takes matters into their own hands against these tribal hunters.  We as taxpayers are paying to have that area’s game managed, and currently, the Yakama Tribal hunters are undermining all efforts in a very significant way.  What are your suggestions for solving this problem?  What would you suggest to best draw attention to this issue?

Sincerely,


     

[NCWCracker]

...should maybe add this to the "Elk Hunting" forum for better exposure?

[NWTFhunter]

good write up.  guess someone who can write better than you and I stepped up to the plate.
Not only send this to Parlette, but to your local reps as well as Anderson at the WDFG

[skybusterbo]

Same thing is happining in Packwood,Oak creek and the Blues.Thank you and good job. 

[NCWCracker]

Thanks for re-posting my letter...

1) where did your original thread go to?
2) how do you get a moderator to post this so that it is fixed at the top of the page?
3) post also on the "elk hunting" forum?

[loveipabeer]

Ray pinned that last thread into the WDFW Announcements , Hunting Politics and Activism forum, I asked him to pin this one instead. I just hope it gets enough exposure and people do it. If we can't do something this easy then we are a sad bunch.

[Ray]

I am going to merge both topics. It doesn't make any sense to have this all over every board.

[Backstraps]

b careful thou u dont want 2 make them mad or piss them off they can really put a hurt on anything they want to and make it worse 4 us, 30 of them head up HLR area and shoot 10 or so and no one can say much about it. We r kind lucky they havnt messed with the deer around here 2 bad, but the elk r def. gettin the shaft

    Duck,they're killing many deer as well!

[yelp]

Indians in this state have all the power....many sportsman before us all up to today have fought this same battle.  Tribes will get thieres before we get ours.  I have ancestors that brought in Rocky Mountain Elk into the Blues and the Umatillas have claimed rights too it..that pisses me off those elk weren't present at the treaty writing...Its a religious issue and you can't fight it in the courts.  Remember several years ago the subsistence issues...well tribes have found that it is also a passage/religious or ceremonial..Making subsistence or hunting rights now attached to religion.  You can't tell me all of the Makah members shovelled whale blubber into therre mouths when they could get a number 2 supersized!

WA state has 26 indian tribes all with thier own rights and ceremonial hunting areas.  Treaties with standing...We need better negotiations from WDFW.  The bending over everytime tribal interests want something and giving it to them is crap!  The WDFW believes that is cooperating.  Many of the individuals(wdfw) "cooperating" don't hunt or fish so they have no idea how to negotiate for the sportsman.  They just want that card for other issues that come up politically when they need tribal support...pathetic.  I am a Washington state native born and bred where are my rights! 

To fight this monstrocity will have to take it Federal and out of the states hands...BUT The federal district is San Fran..lots of liberals.  I think we need to worked with tribes to make things better for all...it sad to say but that is the way I see it right now!

[bucksnort]

I will add my  I am a registered Snohomish Indian.  Our tribe sold their land years ago and so they aren't recognized by the feds.  The Tulalips fight tooth and nail every time they try and get recognized so they can protect their casino money. I have absolutely no respect for the tribes since they cling to the treatys that allow them to put up casinos while they are allowed to double dip into the Federal coffers on top of it.  Our family had an oyster farm for years and we saw the writing on the wall.  We sold before the Indians pulled the land grab on commercial and private tidelands.  The part that is truly amazing is that the Pacific oyster and the manila steamer clams were introduced by the white man in the 1900's!!  The only native species are the small Olympia oyster and the rock clams. I agree the tribes need to put in their place but I think it will take another Civil War to do it with the liberal haven that Washington State is.  I would like to see them choose between casino money or Federal aid.  They should also only be allowed to hunt on their own reservations.  That would definitely make them live up to their claims of being tied to the land and protectors of nature.  What a joke.  Almost makes me want to puke when I hear it.

[boneaddict]

Damn Bucksnort.  I am proud of you.