Sovereignty: Final Alternative Site Dedicated to Replace Drowned Celilo Falls and Other Lost Fisheries - The 15,000-year-old cascading falls that had cut into the basalt gorge was the most important fishing grounds to have existed anywhere, and served as the oldest continually inhabited settlement in North America. The building of the dam killed the largest Native trading center in the country, one that had drawn Natives from the Plains, the Southwest, and points beyond to trade furs, and especially obtain the obsidian brought in from central Oregon.

Snoqualmie: Tribe hosts Earth Day event at Sandy Cove Park - The Snoqualmie Tribe is hosting an Earth Day event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 20 at Sandy Cove Park, 7970 Falls Ave. S.E., in downtown Snoqualmie. Learn more by contacting Lisamari Emery at lisamari@snoqualmienation.com or 888-6551, ext. 2103.

Sovereignty: Senate passes bill for tribal retrocession process - The Washington state Senate has passed a bill that opens the door for dismantling state jurisdiction over American Indian tribes.

Sovereignty: State Indian tribes may regain autonomy if Legislature acts - You don’t have to watch Disney’s version of a glorified Pocahontas to know the long history of turbulence between Native Americans and the American government. But steps to give back tribal leaders control of their own communities and their laws are advancing in our state Legislature.

Sovereignty: State bill would allow tribes federal jurisdiction in civil, criminal matters - A state bill nearing approval by the House and Senate would allow tribes in Washington to have jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters returned to the federal government. If the bill becomes law, tribes would submit a request to the governor to return to federal jurisdiction — known as “retrocession” — and the governor would approve or deny the request within a year. If approved, the request would be sent to the U.S. Department of Interior, which would approve, deny or negotiate retrocession.

Sovereignty: Legislature mulls bill returning rights to tribes - Lawmakers in Washington are considering a proposal to start dismantling the state's civil jurisdiction over American Indians, a step many consider long overdue. But some say they worry that restoring full sovereignty to tribes over their members might subject outsiders to unfair treatment in tribal courts. Some people, though, fear tribes may fail to ensure due process for everyone, given a perceived lack of separation between some executive and judicial tribal government branches. They contend state courts must remain an option to settle disputes.

Sovereignty: Growth a Source of Pride and Strain for Some Northwest Tribes - The membership rolls at some Northwest tribes are swelling much faster than growth in the general population. Some of that increase is due to a high birth rate among American Indians. Also, rising prosperity from casinos and other businesses is luring Native Americans back into the fold. However, fast growth has strained the fabric of some tribes, while others wish they had more.