H.R. 3084 would restore Federal recognition to the Chinook Nation.
Detailed Summary
Chinook Nation Restoration Act - Extends federal recognition to the Chinook Indian Nation. Makes the Chinook Tribe and its members eligible for all services and benefits provided by the government to federally recognized tribes regardless of the existence of a reservation or the location of residence of any member on or near any Indian reservation. Designates specified counties in Washington and Oregon as the Tribe's service area for delivery of federal services to enrolled members.
Requires the Tribe to: (1) submit to the Secretary of the Interior a membership roll; and (2) conduct, by secret ballot, an election to adopt a constitution and bylaws. Directs the Secretary: (1) if the Tribe transfers all rights to land to the Secretary, to take such land in trust for the Tribe's benefit, subject to restrictions; (2) to negotiate with the tribal governing body regarding establishing a reservation; and (3) to develop a plan for doing so.
Requires the Secretary to: (1) notify and consult with all appropriate state officials and owners of land adjacent to those considered for the proposed reservation; and (2) provide complete information on the proposed plan to such officials. Requires submission of the plan to Congress upon approval by the tribal governing body.
Requires any real property transferred by the Tribe or any member to the Secretary to be held in the name of the United States for the Tribe's benefit. Prohibits the exercise of eminent domain for purposes of acquiring lands for the Tribe's benefit.
Allows and regulates ceremonial hunting and fishing in specified Washington counties.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 7/15/2009: House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee Hearings Held.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Linda Gilbert
July 3, 2009, 11:49am (report abuse)I strongly feel that Bill H.B. 2576
should be restored. We are very hurt that our recognition was given to us, then taken away. We are still here, and we are still waiting. What do we tell our children? These children work very hard making their own canoe paddles they harvest grass from the water and learn to cure them. They make baskets,hats and many other things. We have a plank house where we celebrate Winter Gathering. We've invited other tribes from around the area.
they recognize us, why don't you
Amber Myers
July 9, 2009, 3:35pm (report abuse)Now is the time to make things right! Support the Chinook Nation with recognition! We have been waiting for this for a long time! Support us with a yes vote!!
Alex Myers
July 9, 2009, 3:36pm (report abuse)Please support the Chinook Nation! Pass this bill!
Ben Myers
July 9, 2009, 3:39pm (report abuse)Please pass this bill! It is the right thing to do!! Show your support for the Chinook Nation with a yes vote!!
Kate Elliott
July 14, 2009, 10:44pm (report abuse)Please vote yes and support the Restoration of the Chinook Nation. This is a correction to US policy long overdue.
Phillip J Elliott
July 15, 2009, 10:22am (report abuse)Please make HISTORY by voting YES to the Chinook Nation Restoration. It will help right a wrong done many years ago and to the present.
Bill Elliott
July 15, 2009, 3:16pm (report abuse)Please vote Yes on the Chinook Nation Restoration we have been waiting years it is the right thing to do let us get on with our lives. Thank You
Jean and Walt Wakefield
July 15, 2009, 4:16pm (report abuse)The Chinook Nation, long recognized and respected by historians, Pacific Northwest residents, visitors to the region, and even by government in a variety of ways, justly deserves the formal recognition that this bill would belatedly provide.
Marlene Hanson
July 18, 2009, 8:25pm (report abuse)Please vote yeas on this Chinook Restoration Bill...It has been a long time coming and please remember that the Chinooks assisted Lewis and Clark on their arrival at the mouth of the Columbia Ricer!
Mary Marczak
July 19, 2009, 12:36pm (report abuse)Please vote yes. Jean and Walt expressed my feelings exactly.
John Mail
July 20, 2009, 7:09pm (report abuse)This Bill is illegal, unethical and immoral. It does NOTHING to honor my people. It strips us of our Indigenous rights and treats us as Children to a Federal Government that has done nothing to ensure us of a survival of our heritage. It strips our lands away from us, denies us our hunting and fishing rights and was "agreed" to by ONE tribe out of the 13 that constitute our Nation. It is an abomination and nothing more than ethnic cleansing, homogenizing our diversified cultural traditions to one, take it or leave it, future. This is a bad bill which honorable people should neither endorse nor sign. Read it, see what we are supposedly "willingly" giving up! What Indian would willingly trade their heritage for such a paltry return? See my letter at http://northcoastoregon.com. I am the great-grandson of Chief George Charley, last of the Chief's on the lower Columbia to challenge the US government to fish our traditional grounds. This bill does nothing to honor him or his memory.
Julie Cartwright
July 28, 2009, 4:53pm (report abuse)Please support this bill as it is the right thing to do.
Our people have waited a very long time for this. Our Elders are dying and we lack good healthcare
How many decades have we waited for our tribe to be a federally recognized tribe---The time is now
Please support this bill as it is the right thing to do.
Our people have waited a very long time for this. Our Elders are dying and we lack good healthcare
How many decades have we waited for our tribe to be a federally recognized tribe---The time is now
melinda jones
September 15, 2009, 5:12am (report abuse)please realize that our people still exist and always have we deserve whats owed to us my great grandmother sara ero fought for this as well as my father charles jones waiting for this and now me and my two children and it will just go down the kine but we will still be here so do whats right
victorlahr
(logged in user) September 18, 2009, 7:42pm (report abuse)Please support this bill.Let's get it done!It's the right thing to do!Come on Congress the Chinook have waited to long for this,right the wrong.
Kathy Henry
October 1, 2009, 4:41pm (report abuse)The Chinook people have diligently tried to preserve their culture and their history. They have had managed to survive without the any of the support which might have come with federal recognition. Non-recognition put the Chinook Tribe at a distinct disadvantage in their efforts to preserve their culture. Is this right, is it fair? I do not think it is and I hope you agree and vote for the long-overdue recognition of the Chinook Tribe.
Sam Robinson
November 2, 2009, 1:47pm (report abuse)Please support the Chinook Restoration Bill HR3084. There has been three generations working on Chinook Federal Recognition. We are fast loosing those from the second generation.It is time to correct this injustice and restore status to once was the biggest Tribe in North America.
I strongly feel that our surrounding communities are ready as well!
Reverend Josh Taylor
November 12, 2009, 4:17pm (report abuse)Bigman is my Native American name and I support this bill. But please exclude casinos from this bill because it's a sin of greed. We must give our respects to the Native Americans and their ancestors. Some of them have even converted to Christianity.
Carol Olden
November 20, 2009, 7:40pm (report abuse)I was asked in 1997 to write a letter of support for the Lower
Chinook Nation to obtain Federal recognition, before I was aware of the situation regarding adopting in of inlaws and giving them my family's identities, so I have some concern about enrollment procedures. The current bill is not Federal recognition as it denies the Lower Chinook Nation the Boldt decision fishing rights which has stood for over 30 years in Federal Court, as well as hunting rights,trapping rights, NAGPRA, aboriginal title to land ,NAGPRA, and many other rights which all Federally recognized tribes have. As such it is unconstitutional. I personally would not have voted for fishing only twice a year for ceremonial purposes or funerals instead of a share of fish under the Boldt decision and have ceremonial fisheries managed by the WA state Dept of Fisheries instead of the tribal fishery program and the allocation taken from the state's recreational and commercial fishing allocation for nontribal members.