Washington State Legislators Support Wenatchi Tribe
State House and Senate unanimously pass Resolutions

(Nespelem, Wash.—April 28, 2003) The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation today announced that the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives both passed resolutions to support the Wenatchi Tribe. In addition, a documentary about the plight of the Wenatchi has been nominated for three regional Emmy awards.

For more than 150 years, the Wenatchi Tribe of Indians has attempted to have its rights recognized and receive land promised them by a government treaty. Today, most descendants of the Wenatchi live on the Colville Reservation and the tribe continues to seek land and federal recognition.

A treaty signed in 1855 set aside 23,000 acres of land at the fork of the Icicle and Wenatchee rivers in north central Washington state. Congress again promised the tribe land near the Icicle when it ratified an agreement made in 1894.

The Colville Tribes has proposed legislation that would finally give the Wenatchis the land base that was promised them by Congress in 1855 and 1894. In a gesture of support the Washington State Senate passed Resolution 8667 urging U.S. Congress to allow the transfer of approximately 20,000 acres of National Forest lands in the area of the Icicle River.

Senators Prentice, T. Sheldon, Jacobsen, Swecker and Winsley sponsored the bi-partisan resolution.

Similarly, in Resolution 2003-4662 the House of Representatives honored the Wenatchi Tribe for their land stewardship, dedication to their heritage and efforts to preserve their history and culture. Representatives Chase, Santos and McCoy sponsored the resolution.

“We’re thrilled that our state legislators are willing to support the Wenatchi,” said Joe Pakootas, chairman of the Colville Tribe’s Business Council. “This is a saga that has gone on for too long. It’s time to let the Wenatchi people return to their land. The support from the House and Senate means a lot to the Colville Tribe and the Wenatchi people.”

Recent documentary on the Wenatchi honored with award nominations:
The Wenatchi’s story was recently told in the PBS documentary False Promises: Lost Land of the Wenatchi. The hour-long film produced and directed by the award winning director Rustin Thompson is based on the research of historian E. Richard Hart.

False Promises was honored with three Emmy nominations, for best cultural and historical documentary, best editing and best musical score.

Through the use of historical photographs and music, the film illustrates how the Wenatchi abided by the terms of the 1855 Treaty and remained peaceful during a time on Indian and non-Indian hostilities.

“The Emmy nominations are a great honor,” said Mathew Dick, the great-grandson of Chief John Harmelt, the last leader of the Wenatchi Tribe. “The film did an excellent job telling our story and it’s satisfying to see the film get the recognition it deserves. Along with the recent Senate and House support it’s encouraging to see the issue gaining even more positive momentum.”

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation consists of 1.3 million acres located in north central Washington. Tribal government is based in Nespelem, Wash. Today most descendants of the Wenatchi Tribe of Indians are enrolled members of the Colville Tribe. More information about the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation is available at www.colvilletribes.com. More information about the Wenatchi Tribe and False Promises: Lost Land of the Wenatchi is available at www.falsepromises.com.
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Electronic links to the Senate and House resolutions are available at:
http://search.leg.wa.gov