2012 Annual Convention

Pendleton, OR

RESOLUTION #12 - 54

"REQUESTING THAT THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

ACCOMPLISH A FISH CONSUMPTION RATE OF NO LESS THAN 175 GRAMS PER DAY

FOR HUMAN HEALTH CRITERIA RULEMAKING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST”

PREAMBLE

We, the members of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians of the United States, invoking the 

divine blessing of the Creator upon our efforts and purposes, in order to preserve for ourselves 

and our descendants rights secured under Indian Treaties, Executive Orders, and benefits to 

which we are entitled under the laws and constitution of the United States and several states, to 

enlighten the public toward a better understanding of the Indian people, to preserve Indian 

cultural values, and otherwise to promote the welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish 

and submit the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) are representatives of 

and advocates for national, regional, and specific tribal concerns; and

WHEREAS, ATNI is a regional organization comprised of American Indians/Alaska 

Natives and tribes in the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Nevada, Northern

California, and Alaska; and

WHEREAS, the health, safety, welfare, education, economic and employment 

opportunity, and preservation of cultural and natural resources are primary goals and objectives 

of the ATNI; and

WHEREAS, throughout time immemorial we as the first people of the Pacific Northwest

have cared for and sustained the First Foods beginning with the pure water that we hold sacred,
AFFILIATED TRIBES OF NORTHWEST INDIANS RESOLUTION #12 -54

2012 ANNUAL CONVENTION PAGE 2

and guided by our traditional religious and cultural practices, we are obligated to take action now 

to care for the water for the next seven generations; and 

WHEREAS, numerous robust, valid, reputable scientific studies unfortunately have 

shown that shellfish and fish, including salmon and resident fish consumed by native people in 

the Pacific Northwest, exposes them to toxic contaminants and poses a human health risk; and

WHEREAS, scientific surveys have shown that native people in the Pacific Northwest 

today eat 300 – 500 grams of fish per day which is down from historical rates of more than 800 

grams per day reflecting ceremonial, subsistence and other fishing practices which are secured 

by treaties and executive orders with the United States; and

WHEREAS, ATNI recognizes and appreciates that in 2011 Oregon adopted, and the 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved water quality standards based on a fish 

consumption rate of 175 grams per day; and

WHEREAS, on May 10, 2012 the EPA disapproved Idaho’s request to use a fish 

consumption rate of 17.5 grams per day when deriving water quality criteria; and

WHEREAS, tribes need immediate assistance from EPA to continue to build capacity to 

develop and in some cases update tribal fish consumption rates; and

WHEREAS, tribes in the Pacific Northwest are concerned that EPA has long had 

knowledge of scientifically sound data concerning known tribal fish consumption levels and yet 

fails to enforce existing laws (i.e., the Clean Water Act) to protect fish consuming populations

and acquiesces to the very industries and corporations they regulate; and

WHEREAS, tribes in the Pacific Northwest must coordinate to protect and improve 

human and environmental health through water quality and sediment standards for the benefit of 

natural resources, First Foods, and indigenous people everywhere; and 

WHEREAS, adopting higher, more accurate fish consumption rates benefits not only 

tribal people, but all citizens, in the Pacific Northwest who consume fish and value a cleaner and 

more healthy environment; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI does hereby request that EPA

immediately take necessary and appropriate steps to establish a federal default fish consumption 

rate of no less than 175 grams per day for Oregon, Washington, and Idaho to support and guide 

water quality and sediment management standards; and

BE IF FURTHER RESOLVED, and to use the EPA General Assistance Program to 

fund Tribal capacity efforts to develop and update Tribal fish consumption rates.
AFFILIATED TRIBES OF NORTHWEST INDIANS RESOLUTION #12 -54

2012 ANNUAL CONVENTION PAGE 3

CERTIFICATION

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2012 Annual Convention of the Affiliated 

Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino in Pendleton, Oregon on 

September 24 – 27, 2012 with a quorum present.

______________________________ ______________________________

Fawn Sharp, President Norma Jean Louie, Secretary