The two men also push to protect the environment

Beth Casper
Statesman Journal

November 30, 2006

Native American activists Billy Frank Jr. and Hank Adams blazed the trail for establishing Indian fishing rights and protecting natural resources.

But the pair said more work is needed and urged young people to continue to fight for native rights and a way of life that doesn't damage the environment. The two spoke to more than 150 people Wednesday night at Willamette University.

Frank and Adams spoke as part of the university's Indian Country Conversations. The tribal elders were leaders in the movement to protect treaty-guaranteed fishing rights. Frank was arrested more than 50 times during acts of civil disobedience in the Northwest to defend his community's right to fish. Adams was a "strategist," finding legal and political ways to protect Indian rights.

The struggles continue, Frank and Adams said.

"We are still allowing permits to pollute," said Frank. "We haven't stopped the bleeding."

Salmon are a casualty of the pollution and habitat degradation, the elders said. The decline is devastating to native peoples.

"From the time you are born, you are eating salmon," Frank said. "You eat salmon all year round. The salmon is in your bloodstream. Ceremonies are all about the salmon. We talk to the salmon."

Native Americans have always wanted to keep the salmon population healthy.

"Salmon are so important to all of our people," he said. "Salmon is our life. ... When the river smells of salmon, you know that is a healthy watershed."

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