Native American Fishing Rights

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Fishing is a common hobby for all types of people. Native Americans can fish but deserve different fishing rights, rather than the ones they have now. When American settlers immigrated, Indians were reassured they would be compensated. Isaac I Stevens was then appointed as the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, he began to create treaties which included talking about fishing grounds. It was then signed to confirm the fishing rights and other agreed rights. Native Americans should have different fishing rights because they are their own sovereign nation, it’s part of their culture, and it was confirmed in the treaty.
Native Americans should have different fishing rights because they’re their own sovereign nation. According to the Treaty of Point …show more content…

According to the Treaty of Point Elliott, “The right of taking fish at usual and accustomed grounds and stations is further secured to said Indians in common with all citizens of the Territory and of erecting temporary houses for the purpose of curing, together with the privilege of hunting and gathering roots and berries on open and unclaimed lands,” (Stevens). Fishing and hunting was part of their culture because they wanted to give back to the Earth. Stevens recognized this and that’s why he included it in the treaties and the tribal nations. According to Background: Treaty Making in Western Washington, “The treaties provided for reservations and acknowledged the importance of “usual and accustomed: fishing and shell-fishing grounds as well as hunting and other resource taking territories for the sustenance of the Indian people” (Harmon). Not just for their culture but the fact some items can be used for trade. If they took that privilege away non Indians would have nothing to gain since trading wouldn’t happen anymore. It would be a loss for both parties. To Native Americans, culture is a large part in their life. It would be very wrong to strip them of …show more content…

Native Americans were given land and are the only people who can use it, this makes them feel like a nation, culturally, they fish because they feel the need to give back to the Earth and that is the way they know how. When Isaac signed the treaty, everyone agreed to abide and keep their promise to these rules. Native Americans deserve to have good fishing rights since it was agreed on and keeping the promises spoken about. If they weren’t going to be kept, the treaty might as well mean

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