3/9 Billy Frank, Jr., Indigenous sea gardens, Tacoma methane, Indigenous management of public lands

Billy Frank, Jr.

Happy Birthday, Billy!
Billy Frank, Jr. [b. March 9, 1931] was a tireless advocate for Indian treaty rights and environmental stewardship, whose activism paved the way for the “Boldt decision,” which reaffirmed tribal co-management of salmon resources in the state of Washington. Frank led effective “fish-ins,” which were modeled after sit-ins of the civil rights movement, during the tribal “fish wars” of the 1960s and 1970s. His magnetic personality and tireless advocacy over more than five decades made him a revered figure both domestically and abroad. Frank was the recipient of many awards, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Service Award for Humanitarian Achievement. Frank left in his wake an Indian Country strengthened by greater sovereignty and a nation fortified by his example of service to one’s community, his humility, and his dedication to the principles of human rights and environmental sustainability. (BillyFrankJr.org)

Researchers and Indigenous land stewards create story map of Indigenous seaside habitats
This year, SFU researchers launched an interactive story map of stewarded sea gardens in the Pacific Ocean. The project consists of Indigenous scholars and knowledge holders, along with academics and artists who wished to “foster learning about sea gardens drawing from traditional and scientific knowledge.” The story map highlights information about “ancestral mariculture across the Pacific Ocean.” It is rooted in Indigenous stewardship of the oceans, intergenerational knowledge, governance systems, and cultural practices, according to their website.  Mariculture is the farming of marine organisms in bodies of water. Karissa Kettter reports. (The Peak)

Tacoma methane storage stirs conflict over climate, health and tribal rights
In the Tideflats of Tacoma, beyond the masts of sailboats anchored in the Puyallup Tribe’s marina, pipelines emerge from the earth and snake their way inland. Their destination — an 8 million gallon liquefied methane gas tank — was once considered by politicians to be the logical answer to the climate crisis. Now, it’s the center of a local controversy with international implications. The tank, owned by Puget Sound Energy, is the product of a recent era of proposed climate solutions. In 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency gave the shipping company TOTE Maritime a waiver to switch its operations to methane gas, also referred to as natural gas, in order to encourage it to lower the sulfur output from its diesel emissions. Two years later, PSE signed a contract with TOTE to supply its ships with gas. Against the express wishes of the Puyallup, the 14-story waterfront tank was born.  Rico Moore reports. (High Country News/Crosscut)

U.S. looks to boost cooperation with tribes on land management
National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said Tuesday he and other officials are committed to boosting the role Native American tribes can play in managing public lands around the U.S. He told members of a congressional committee during a virtual hearing that part of the effort includes integrating Indigenous knowledge into management plans and recognizing that federal lands once belonged to the tribes. Susan Montoya Bryan reports. (Associated Press)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  234 AM PST Wed Mar 9 2022   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON   
TODAY  E wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 1 to 3 ft in the  afternoon. W swell 3 ft at 12 seconds. 
TONIGHT  E wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SE to 10 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 14 seconds.

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