Gov. Gregoire hosts 23rd annual Centennial Accord meeting

For Immediate Release: June 7, 2012

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today met with Tribal leaders during the 23rd annual Centennial Accord meeting, held this year at the Suquamish Tribe�s House of Awakened Culture in Suquamish.

�I helped draft the Centennial Accord as an assistant attorney general, and haven�t missed a Centennial Accord meeting since it was first signed 23 years ago,� Gregoire said. �As this is my last Accord meeting, I�ve done a lot of reflection. When we started the Accord process, there was almost no relationship at all between the state and the Tribes. What a different story today. We�ve taken momentous strides to strengthen our government-to-government relations. Today marks a day for reflection, celebration and continuing the work to preserve this partnership into the future.�

Signed in 1989 by then Gov. Booth Gardner, state officials and leaders of federally recognized tribes, the Centennial Accord creates a framework for a positive government-to-government partnership. Washington was one of the first states to sign such an agreement, which recognized the need for cooperation among sovereign governments. Other states have since followed Washington�s example by adopting similar policies.

During today�s meeting, officials celebrated collaborative accomplishments during the past eight years, including the passage this year of House Bill 2232 which provides a framework for tribal retrocession and Senate Bill 6175, which solidifies the goals and intent of the Centennial Accord into state law.

Additional milestones achieved during Gregoire�s administration include:

� Changing the rules to allow tribal law enforcement officers to be certified by the State Academy, improving the safety of all Washingtonians;
� Obtaining a commitment from schools to teach all Washington students about Washington�s Native American culture and practices;
� Restoring ancient lands to the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe with the removal of the Elwha River dams; and
� Developing new processes to ensure that state capital construction projects avoid and minimize impacts to tribal cultural resources.

Tribal leaders also facilitated a discussion to develop goals and strategies moving forward.

The governor was joined by Swinomish Tribal Community Chairman Brian Cladoosby, Attorney General Rob McKenna, Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn, Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark, Rep. Sherry Appleton and Rep. Sam Hunt.