Western Washington’s environmental community was saddened last week with the news that Lorraine Loomis, Chairwoman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, passed away August 10. Earthjustice Northwest Regional Office Managing Attorney Kristen Boyles released the following statement in response:

“We celebrate the life and legacy of Lorraine Loomis — a passionate leader for Indian Country, salmon, and the environment — even as we mourn her passing on August 10, 2021. Chairwoman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, Swinomish Fisheries’ Manager, and former Swinomish Senator, Lorraine’s decades of knowledge and experience in Washington will be sorely missed. Lorraine also contributed her skills across the border, helping to develop and implement the U.S./Canada Pacific Salmon Treaty and submitting testimony to Canadian regulators opposing the Trans Mountain Pipeline.

“Lorraine worked constantly for treaty fishing rights for all treaty tribes in western Washington, and she described her work as a success story, noting that ‘We are all working for tomorrow. We are working to make certain there will be salmon for the next seven generations.’

“With her example in our hearts, we pledge to further her vision of protected treaty rights and recovered salmon and orca populations. Our thoughts are with Lorraine’s family, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, and Fisheries’ Commission she guided for so long.”