Birthday of Billy Frank Jr.

Nisqually citizen, treaty fishing rights warrior, and salmon management advocate, Billy Frank Jr. was a front lines fighter in the fish wars. First arrested as a 14 year old in 1945 for fishing 'off-reservation', Billy would go on to be arrested over 50 times for exercising his treaty rights. After the Boldt decision was upheld by the US Supreme Court, securing 50% of the salmon catch for treaty fishers, Billy would serve as chairman of Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission for over 30 years. As chairman he led the comanagement of fisheries and shellfish resources between Native governments and the state and federal wildlife managers.