Treaty Justice

“A deeply sympathetic account of saving wild salmon… Readers interested in the history of Indigenous peoples, the Pacific Northwest, and legal battles will enjoy this book.”

“The first comprehensive, book-length account of all that led up to the landmark 1974 case, United States v. Washington, commonly known as “the Boldt Decision”… There is probably no author better suited to recount this history than Wilkinson.”

“Masterfully frames the Boldt Decision’s historical context … In addition to detailing the case’s fascinating intricacies and the massive racist backlash against treaty fishing rights, Wilkinson emphasizes the most important outcome of the Boldt Decision—the establishment of salmon comanagement.”

“An excellent and important final work for an illustrious career… Highly recommended.”

“Exceptionally well-researched and clearly written.”

“In time for the 50th anniversary of the landmark Boldt Decision, Wilkinson unlocks a unique view into the players and actions behind the fight for civil rights for tribes in the Pacific Northwest and the lasting significance of the decision which set a new legal precedent for the relationship between tribes, the federal government, and the states.”

“An even-handed and comprehensive primer on this vexed, core issue in the Northwest.”

“Charles Wilkinson not only aptly provides the larger historical context for what is arguably one of the most important court decisions of the twentieth century regarding rights but, more importantly, also conveys the human element… This is a book that can easily be used in a college classroom, demonstrating a case study of how legal decisions are made and why they matter. But it has real-world applications outside of academia for tribal governments, for environmentalists, and for anyone interested in the interplay between culture and treaty rights.”

“Treaty Justice is significant because it helps the reader place Pacific Northwest history prominently within historical discourse around ever-developing American Indian law, westward expansion, and the ‘staying power of Native people.’”

Charles Wilkinson (1941–2023) was the Moses Lasky Professor of Law at the University of Colorado. His fourteen books include Blood Struggle: The Rise of Modern Indian Nations and Messages from Frank’s Landing: A Story of Salmon, Treaties, and the Indian Way.