The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a finding last week in the tribal fishing case Yurok Tribe v. Resighini Rancheria and Gary Dowd. The court found that the Yurok Tribe does not have an exclusive fishing right on the lower Klamath River. This protects the recognition of a tribal fishing right of the Resighini Rancheria.In the case, the Yurok Tribe sought to prosecute elder Gary Dowd, a Resighini Rancheria tribal citizen, for traditionally fishing in usual and accustomed places on the Klamath River. The Yurok Tribe contends that Dowd relinquished his rights to fish within the Yurok Reservation when he elected to not become a member of the Yurok Tribe under the Hoopa-Yurok Settlement Act in 1988. Instead, Dowd elected to remain a Resighini Rancheria tribal citizen where he has always been a member.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');“We are pleased by the Court’s decision. We will continue to protect our culture and fishing rights on the Klamath River, just as our ancestors have done since time immemorial. As original stewards, Resighini Rancheria will continue to co-manage our shared precious natural resources,” said Chairperson Fawn Murphy in a press release.Established in 1993, the Yurok Tribe is the largest tribe in California with over 6,500 members. Established in 1937, the Resighini Rancheria is a small federally recognized tribe with only 150 members. Resighini members are Yurok people, traditionally known as Poliklah and Nr-er-ner. The reservation of the Resighini Rancheria is located on the lower Klamath River. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });