Leaders of the Lummi Nation of Washington March 28 state hosted U.S. Treasurer Lynn Malerba for discussions of the tribe’s needs and business development, the Cascadia Daily News reports.
Malerba met tribal leaders, entrepreneurs and members and representatives of the Lummi Indian Business Council (LIBC) and the Lummi Community Development and Financial Institution (CDFI).
They related how they’ve used about $105 million in federal grants over the last few years. It focused on efforts to bolster tribal fisheries, specifically its salmon fishing fleet. The tribal economy revolves around salmon fishing, and the tribe calls itself “the salmon people.”
LIBC Chairman Anthony Hillaire commented, “We showed her our Gooseberry Point boat launch, and gave her a glimpse of the fishing industry, as well as our natural resource and social economy to give her a better idea of who we are.”
Malerba told the News, “We know that there has been this historic underinvestment in Indian Country, and this is hopefully just the beginning of restoring what has been lost in the country, and helping Native nations rebuild in ways that are impactful to them, and in ways that respect their culture.”
Malerba planned to meet other Washington tribes. Malerba is a member of the Mohegan Tribe, and was its first woman to serve as chief. She is also the first indigenous person to serve as U.S. treasurer.
She commented on her trip: “I tell our tribal nations I said ‘yes’ for all of us, because it’s the first time there has been an Indigenous treasurer.”
