“As a small sovereign nation of American Indians, the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe shares the belief of all our tribal nations, that the Earth is our Mother and that the Creator resides beyond the skies and within our own beings. While we strive to protect our Mother Earth, so does she shelter us in so many ways from harm.” -SSIT website
Primary Programs/Projects:
The SSIT Natural Resources Department’s Fisheries Program includes a mission statement to, “enhance and restore healthy salmonid populations to the Skagit River Basin to protect Tribal treaty rights and cultural values.” Two other programs focus on protecting and restoring clean water quality and preparing Tribal members for the impacts of climate change. Each of these programs involve a major focus on impacts to the Tribe’s fisheries.
Reason for Joining the Skagit Watershed Council:
Sauk-Suiattle has always been a direct participant in the Skagit Watershed Council since its inception via the Skagit River System Cooperative. The SRSC Restoration Director has always been SSIT’s representative on the SWC Board and will continue to be. Sauk-Suiattle has also participated on the Lead Entity Citizens Committee (LECC). Joining the SWC as a member organization is meant to further underline the already strong commitment Sauk-Suiattle has always maintained to the success of SWC’s mission, “…to restore the productivity of healthy ecosystems in order to support sustainable fisheries.”
