Environment | Law | Politics

KUOW: A clean slate for tribal fishermen in Washington





House Bill 2080 in Washington will help tribal fishermen who were convicted in the 1960s for exercising their treaty rights:
Around 40 to 50 years ago, American Indians in Western Washington were repeatedly arrested during protests over treaty fishing rights.

Now, convicted tribal fishermen may gain the opportunity to clear their records of misdemeanors and felonies from before 1975.

The current chairman of the Stillaguamish Tribe, Shawn Yanity, was a child at the time. He told state lawmakers in Olympia Tuesday that convictions continue to affect tribal members today when it comes to finding jobs, crossing borders, and qualifying for loans.

Get the Story:
Clean Slate For Tribal Fishing Rights Protesters? (KUOW 1/15)

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