BIA urged to get involved in dispute over ferry on Lummi Nation

Friday, March 4, 2011  

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is being urged to get involved in a dispute over a ferry on the Lummi Nation in Washington.

The tribe owns the land where the Lummi Island ferry docks. The tribe has been negotiating a lease with Whatcom County but talks stalled, potentially leading to a shutdown of the ferry.

"The bottom line is, we cannot cut off access to the island for residents who depend on the ferry to go to school, shop for groceries or commute to work. Shutting down the ferry is not a solution to this problem. Negotiations on this issue must resume so a productive solution to this issue can be reached without hurting the local community," Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Washington) said in a press release, The Bellingham Herald reported.

Larsen, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) wrote a letter to the BIA, asking the agency to help address the issue. Cantwell is a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

Get the Story:
Senators join Larsen, show concern over Lummi Island ferry dispute (The Bellingham Herald 3/4)

Related Stories:
Lummi Nation sets 60-day deadline for closure of ferry service (2/16)
Lummi Nation agrees to enter into mediation for ferry agreement (9/9)
Crosscut: Two Lummis separated by more than just ferry service (8/30)
County seeks BIA's assistance in negotiations with Lummi Nation (8/26)
Lummi Nation upset with lack of final agreement for county's ferry (8/6)
County to pay Lummi Nation over operation of ferry (2/9)
Lummi Nation and county reach agreement for ferry (2/5)
Lummi Leaders: No more lost lives over ferry use (11/24)