Statement of Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission on the Passing of Billy Frank Jr.
Paul Lumley, Executive Director
Portland, OR- Indian County has suffered a monumental loss in the passing of Billy Frank, Jr. Billy was a staunch advocate for tribal sovereignty and treaty reserved fishing rights as well as the region’s salmon populations. His impacts knew no boundaries and were often felt from the streams of the Pacific Northwest to the halls of Washington DC. Billy was a living icon whose legacy will be seen in every fish return, every tribal fishery, and every battle for those resources that has yet to be fought.