During the 27 years that the Samish were refused federal recognition as a tribe by the US government, they were deprived basic human rights such as health care and housing assistance.
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by Alex Cuff/PNN News Brief Editor In 1969 a clerk in the Bureau of Indian Affairs dropped the Samish Indian Nation off the list of recognized tribes, for no reason known today. For 27 years the Samish did not exist in the eyes of the US government. Without federal recognition, tribes are not eligible for health care, low-income housing assistance or money to meet educational needs. The Samish are demanding reparations for tribal damage caused by this gross mistake. "For some of us, it’s less about the money and more about continuing to set the record straight about the contemptuous way in which we were treated" says Ken Hansen, tribal chairman. In May 1996, after years in court, the Samish were officially (federally) recognized as a tribe. The Samish are also filing a lawsuit to restore their treaty rights, such as fishing and hunting. Although the Samish have regained some of their long lost benefits, not that much has changed with in the BIA. "Regrettably, some of the same people who caused this problem for us in 1969 are still at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, still doing damage to other tribes," commented Hansen. "I’m thinking about Duwamish, Chinook, Snohomish." Those three tribes are in the same position as the Samish found themselves for 27 years. Support is also missing from other tribes. The Samish face opposition from 7 or 8 out of 22 western Washington tribes in regards to regaining their tribal rights. These tribes would have to share Puget Sound’s fishing grounds with the Samish if they regain treaty status. Craig Dorsay, the tribe’s attorney filed a separate suit against the BIA because the Samish has been waiting three years for it’s constitution and membership role to be approved. Plus they are still being funded as a new tribe, which provides the minimal amount of funding. The Bureau has still not submitted the tribe’s budget to Congress. Dorsay explains, "When a tribe is recognized, the bureau is supposed to meet with the tribe, determine their needs, and submit a budget to Congress. But the bureau has never done it." Hopefully the Samish, by demanding justice will speed up the process for the other tribes waiting for federal recognition and bring attention to the short comings of the BIA. |