Opinion - Top opinion

POSTED: Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009

Lummi leaders say ferry terminal must be moved

How many more lives must be lost for the convenience of so few?

For those who believe that the Lummi Nation has an obligation to lease tribal land to Whatcom County for the use of the Lummi Island residents and visitors, please try to see it from the perspective of the Lummi Nation and the Lummi Community where we grew up and have lived for decades.

In exchange for Lummi signing the Treaty of Point Elliot, the United States made many promises to the Lummi people in exchange for over 90 percent of the Lummi territory. The U.S. promised to reserve the reservation "for the exclusive use of the Indians," and the right to "hunt, fish and gather at our usual and accustom" places.

Whatcom County has operated the ferry at the current location without a valid lease. The tribe notified the county 10 years ago that the lease was not valid and have attempted to negotiate a lease that addressed our concerns. The 25-year term of the unapproved lease expires on February 14, 2010.

The most important of our many concerns is the safety of all people who travel Haxton Way, especially pedestrians. At Lummi's request, the county conducted a safety study, which confirmed the hazards that reservation residents face every day on Haxton Way.

Our position has been clear from the beginning, that if the ferry was to stay on Gooseberry Point, these hazards must be addressed as described in the safety study. At a recent Whatcom County Council meeting, the county sheriff said there is not a more dangerous road in the county than Haxton Way. Our Lummi children regularly walk along that road, and some have not returned home from that walk.

As for our desire to develop our property at Gooseberry Point including the addition of a marina, the county has known about this for years, and have provided two letters supporting our efforts in securing funding for this project. Lummi helped Whatcom County identify grant funding for a new ferry and advocated for federal funding to move the ferry dock.

The ferry, the location of the dock, and the long line-up, significantly impacts the current use of the area for commercial fishing and the economic development opportunities for the Gooseberry Point area. During the summer months the ferry traffic line extends for a quarter mile or more and interferes with tribal fishers launching their boats. The ferry wake damages tribal fishing boats; and the ferry route interferes with fishing opportunity. Overflow parking has also become a regular problem in the summer and early fall.

The Lummi Nation and Whatcom County have been meeting for years to discuss the future of Gooseberry Point, the ferry dock, the associated public safety concerns, and Lummi's desire to develop the area.

Lummi suggested other dock locations, both on and off the reservation. The county has conducted a ferry relocation feasibility study; the final draft is currently under review by both the tribe and the county. Lummi has offered Whatcom County a five-year lease that required the county to address our traffic safety concerns and mitigate the ferry's interference with our treaty reserved fishing rights. Our hope is that these issues can be resolved and an agreement reached between the Lummi Nation and Whatcom County for a short-term lease at the present location to allow time to relocate the terminal.

It is clear that the ferry, traffic, parking, and line-up cause traffic safety problems, interferes with treaty protected fishing rights, and impedes the economic development potential of Gooseberry Point. The Lummi Council must consider what is best for our community before they make a decision.

So, now many more lives must be lost? Our answer is, "Not one more." Thank-you.

Henry Cagey is Chairman of the Lummi Nation. Richard Jefferson is director of Lummi Planning and Public Works.