Reward offered in tribal boat vandalism

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of individuals who vandalized a tribal fishing boat. Employees arriving for work on Tuesday morning found a racist message on the Dream Catcher and items taken from the boat, which was moored at Mosquito Park near Brewster, Washington. The line to the purse seine, used to net fish, was cut. The boat is used to collect brood stock for salmon production at the Chief Joseph Hatchery. “We release 2.9 million salmon yearlings per year,” said Randall Friedlander, the tribe’s fish and wildlife director. “These fish provide future returns for all of the fishermen throughout the entire river system.” The boat is also used for a limited harvest of hatchery Chinook salmon, which are distributed to tribal members. The tribe has stepped up security after the incident. Anyone with information is being asked to call the Colville Tribal Police Dept. at (509) 634-2472.