Duwamish tribal leader Cecile Hansen, in an emotional and passionate press conference at the Tribal Longhouse and Cultural Center on West Marginal Way SW July 8, vowed that the tribe would battle on for federal recognition despite the "final" denial issued earlier this month by the Dept. of Interior.

"We are still here" said Hansen, flanked by other tribal leaders.

The denial came in the form of a letter from R. Lee Fleming, Director Office of Federal Acknowledgement on July 2.

The letter reads in part:

Dear Ms. Hansen:
The petition for Federal Acknowledgement as an Indian tribe of the group known as the Duwamish Tribal Organization (Petitioner #25) has been reviewed under Part 83 of Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations, (25 CFR Part 83), "Procedures for Establishing that an American Indian Tribe Exists as an Indian Tribe." Based on the available evidence, the Department has determined that Petitioner #25 is not entitled to be acknowledged as an Indian tribe within the meaning of Federal law.

This decision is final and will become effective immediately on publication of the Federal Register notice. Because this Final Decision is done under Judicial Remand after your group had exhausted the appeals provided under the acknowledgement of regulations, we will not direct you to further appeal under the Interior Board of Indian Appeals. This decision is final for the Department.

When a Final Determination is negative, the regulations direct that the petitioner will be informed of alternatives to this administrative process for achieving the status of a federally recognized tribe, or other means by which the petitioner's members may become eligible for services and benefits as Indians. In your case, we believe that some members are already enrolled in federally recognized tribes, and other of your individual members may also be eligible for membership in recognized tribes."

Hansen said the fight would not end here citing a Rep. Jim McDermott sponsored resolution HR 2176 called the Duwamish Tribal Recognition Act that would provide a legislative path for federal recognition.'' Read the text of that bill here.
Currently Govtrack.us gives the bill a 1% chance of passing.

Hansen, who saw support at the press conference from other Native Americans who spoke of their kinship and sang songs to honor the tribe, urged all supporters to write to a list of officials to bring attention to the tribe's efforts.

President Barrack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington D.C. 20500

Secretary Sally Jewell
Dept. of the Interior
1849 C. Street NW
Washington D. C. 20240

Congressman Jim McDermott 7th Dist.
1035 Longworth House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515

Chairman Rob Bishop
Committee on Natural Resources
United States House of Representatives
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515

Chairman Don Young
Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs
2314 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515