In observance of Billy Frank Jr. Day, Willie Frank III, Billy’s son, will share his memories of his father and talk about his own work to continue Billy’s legacy at an event on March 7.
The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. at the Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 2333 San Juan Ave., Port Townsend.
Billy Frank Jr. Day was established by Washington State in November 2015 when President Barack Obama awarded Frank a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom. The following month, the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge was renamed in Frank’s honor.
He is remembered for standing up for off-reservation Native fishing rights that resulted in the Boldt Decision of 1974, U.S. vs. Washington, giving treaty-holding tribes the right to 50% of the available fish harvest. After this decision, based on treaty language, Frank’s focus became salmon habitat restoration and protection of the land and water to bring back the wild fish harvests.
Willie Frank Jr. is continuing his father’s legacy by working collaboratively for healthy salmon habitats and natural environments. He has served on the Nisqually Tribal Council since 2009 when he was first elected at the age of 27 as one of the youngest elected to council. Willie Frank Jr. graduated from Evergreen State College in 2007 with a B.A. in Native studies.
The event, sponsored by QUUF Native Connections Action Group, is free and open to the public.
