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Pierce County proclaims March 9 as Billy Frank Jr. Day, honors tribal fishing rights legacy
Summary
The Pierce County Council and Executive issued a proclamation recognizing Billy Frank Jr.'s role in tribal fishing rights and regional fisheries co-management, and council members reflected on his legacy and its local importance.
The Pierce County Council and Executive proclaimed March 9, 2025, as Billy Frank Junior Day in Pierce County, honoring the late tribal leader’s role in securing fishing rights and advancing tribal-state co-management of fisheries.
The proclamation cites the 1974 Boldt decision as a turning point that affirmed the treaty fishing rights of Washington's indigenous tribes and set the stage for co-management of fisheries. The proclamation also noted Frank’s service to the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and his receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Nancy Shippen Tower Games, identified in the meeting as a Puyallup Scribe member and relative of Billy Frank Jr., accepted the proclamation and recounted family memories and the importance of salmon to tribal life. “Salmon was our livelihood, and it was our food. It was everything to us,” she said, adding that tribal practices preserved fish and culture.
Vice Chair Herrera placed Frank’s work in historical context, saying his leadership helped move a tense period into today’s cooperative management. “Billy took that energy of anger and ... transformed it into a powerful force of change,” Herrera said. Herrera and other council members described Frank’s calm leadership and its contribution to current salmon-recovery efforts, and noted plans and local memorials recognizing his legacy.
The proclamation encourages Pierce County residents to use March 9 or the month to celebrate tribal history and Frank’s contributions to fisheries stewardship and tribal sovereignty.
