It's been well over a year since the Muckleshoot Tribe of Auburn, Wash. first announced their plans for developing the soon-to-be mothballed Sand Point Naval Station. The Muckleshoot proposal, and consequent run-ins with other parties interested in obtaining the land (namely, Seattle City officials and Sand Point community groups), were documented in the September 1993 issue of the Free Press.
The Muckleshoot proposal was submitted and signed by U.S. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt on behalf of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). For months, the documented request had been sitting on the desk of Navy Secretary Admiral Stearns. On April 18th, he slowed down the proceedings by claiming Public Law 93-638 did not apply in this case. PL 93-638 is the federal law which allows federal agencies to have first dibs on the surplus land of other federal agencies. Stearns wanted the land to go directly back to the City of Seattle.
Admiral Stearns' claim caused Interior Department solicitors to debate the issue. After much discussion, they decided PL 93-638 does apply to the Muckleshoot request. Shortly thereafter Admiral Stearns retired. In early June Secretary Babbitt once again signed off the request which now sits on the desk of Defense Secretary William Perry, who will most likely authorize Stearns' replacement as Navy Secretary, Bill Cassidy, to make the final decision.
Throughout the nation, military bases are being surplussed. Many Native American tribes are doing what the Muckleshoot Tribe is doing, attempting to reclaim what once belonged to them. Technically, there is no valid legal reason for the government not to hand Sand Point over to the Muckleshoots tomorrow. Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, however, has called in a few favors in Washington, DC, and somehow managed to delay the final decision until a compromise can be worked out between the city and the Tribe.
The Tribe's original request was for the 161 acre chunk of land. Last summer they down-sized this request to 85 acres, giving up their legitimate claim to nearly half of the coveted property at Sand Point. It would seem a large compromise has already been made. Any additional compromise needs to come from the City of Seattle. This is most likely not going to happen, for Mayor Rice has already stated that he views Muckleshoot ownership of any part of Sand Point as inconsistent with the City's plan.
So where does this leave the Muckleshoot tribe?
"In limbo." says Jeff Watkins, the Tribe's Economic Specialist. With or without the wait, it would appear these proceedings are heading to the courts. "We always wanted to stay away from that, however, the Tribe has so much invested in this it behooves us to follow through. Our first alternative was, and still is, to negotiate and resolve."
As the Muckleshoot legal claim over Sand Point enters its second year, Watkins seems optimistic. "We're still very hopeful. Let's put it this way, the Tribe is very patient. We have to be. Nothing ever comes easy to Native people. It's just the way of the world I guess. We remain hopeful and maybe something good will come out for both parties."
Patience pays off. In July, the tribe won a 23 year old law suit over water rights. The Muckleshoot tribe will be in the Sand Point reclamation struggle for the long haul.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |