Arrow-right Camera
Subscribe now

View of tribe disturbing

The Spokesman-Review

Re: “House hesitant on Lake CdA plan,” April 4:

It is amazing that the Idaho Legislature, now in session, is questioning funding Idaho’s share of the Lake Coeur d’Alene Management Plan when the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, who owns one-third of the lake, is committed to putting up half of the plan funding.

I am dismayed by Rep. Harwood’s statement, “You’re going to let them rule over us that live there. Boy … I’m uneasy about this.”

Mr. Harwood, the Coeur d’Alenes have always lived there; you are the “newcomer.” The Coeur d’Alenes were dispossessed of most of their hereditary territory, but the U. S. Supreme Court ruled in 2001 that the southern third of the lake was never ceded by the tribe to the U.S. government or the state of Idaho.

Lake ownership by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe carries with it responsibility for managing the lake resources, water quality and public safety. It appears to me that the tribe is doing a good job and putting their money where their mouth is for protection of the lake’s water quality. What’s wrong with letting “them rule over us”?

Rep. Harwood, you just need to get rid of your pre-1900s attitude toward Indians.

Mark Weadick

Coeur d’Alene



Letters policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Fax
(509) 459-3815

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy