WHEREAS, The Cowlitz Tribe have called the lands of Southwest Washington home since time immemorial; and
     WHEREAS, The Cowlitz have been referred to as the "blue bloods of Southwest Washington"; and
     WHEREAS, In 1855 when war erupted, Chief Atwin Stockam entered into an agreement that the Cowlitz would remain peaceful if a reservation would be established; and
     WHEREAS, Although the Cowlitz were not involved in any battles, they were not granted their rightful land; and
     WHEREAS, The Cowlitz never entered into a treaty, were never subdued, and never lost the rights to their land; and
     WHEREAS, The Cowlitz have worked diligently throughout the twentieth century for the United States to acknowledge and recognize their rights and historical importance; and
     WHEREAS, On April 12, 1973, the Indian Claims Commission determined the Cowlitz Tribe had been deprived of their original Indian title as of March 20, 1863, without compensation; and
     WHEREAS, The commission only recognized the Cowlitz territory as encompassing 1.66 million acres, only two-thirds of the actual aboriginal territory of 2.4 million acres; and
     WHEREAS, The Cowlitz have been patient and determined in the face of adversity, including adaptation to governmental policy change, encroachment on rights to fish, hunt, and live on their land, and broken promises; and
     WHEREAS, The Cowlitz secured formal acknowledgment as a federally recognized tribe on February 14, 2000;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognize and honor the persistent efforts and contributions of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe to their community and state and congratulate their developments of the past, present, and future and encourage such actions by the Federal Government as necessary to expeditiously restore lands and opportunities to the Cowlitz People to maximize their economic and cultural development and well-being.