WHEREAS, In 1855 the Wenatchi Tribe was party to the 1855 Walla Walla Treaty which guaranteed the tribe fishing, hunting, and gathering rights; and
     WHEREAS, Article 10 of the 1855 Treaty authorized a reservation of approximately 20,000 acres for the Wenatchis near the mouth of the Icicle River; and
     WHEREAS, The United States Senate ratified said treaty on March 8, 1859; and
     WHEREAS, The United States failed to survey and establish said reservation and remove it from the public domain; and
     WHEREAS, In 1894 the United States again ratified an agreement which guaranteed to the Wenatchi Indians both their rights under the 1855 treaty and at least 20,000 acres of lands in the Icicle River area; and
     WHEREAS, As before, the United States failed to take the necessary action to deliver said lands to the Wenatchi Indians; and
     WHEREAS, Wenatchi leaders have continuously worked throughout the twentieth century to have the United States recognize their rights and reservation; and
     WHEREAS, There still remain more than 100,000 acres of National Forest lands in the area where the Wenatchis' reservation should have been set aside; and
     WHEREAS, Today the Wenatchi Tribe is one of the twelve aboriginal tribes of the Colville Confederated Tribes on the Colville Indian Reservation located in the State of Washington; and
     WHEREAS, The Colville Confederated Tribes have been widely recognized for the prowess of their stewardship and programs for the management of forest lands; and
     WHEREAS, Putting a tract of forest lands in the Icicle area under Colville Confederated Tribes management for the benefit of the Wenatchi could improve the local economy for both Indians and non-Indians in the area;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor the efforts of the Colville Confederated Tribes to have the United States Congress enact legislation that would allow the conveyance of approximately 20,000 acres of National Forest lands in the area of the Icicle River to the Colville Confederated Tribes, to be managed for the benefit of the Wenatchi people.