Not actually a tribe, but an association of tribes, the Affiliated Tribes of
Northwest Indians acts as a unified voice for the many different nations that are to be
found in the four state region it covers. Tribes such as the Flathead, the Yakima, the Nez
Perce and the Umatilla all are members of the association which brings together native
peoples from Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
Associations such as the Affiliated Tribes are to be found throughout the United
States where they can coordinate economic, health, education and governmental
relations.
In the northwest a prime concern of many of the tribes is fishing rights.
With much of the region's geography greatly altered by damming such essential
rivers as the Columbia and Snake, the impact upon fishing, especially the salmon fishing
has been devastating. Many of the tribes had for centuries relied upon fishing for the
major source of food and income. Many of the treaties, especially the Treaty of 1855,
dealt with the fishing right of the indigenous people. Now altered by the great dams,
such as the Grand Coulee, the native peoples are seeking recompense for their losses and
compensation for their altered lifestyles.
The flag of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (sample flag provided by
All Nations Flag Co., Portland, OR) is white with a red border set just in from the outer
edges of all four sides. Within this is placed the emblem of the association.
That emblem is a map showing the four states covered by the association in
outline. The map is crossed by a peacepipe, symbolizing the cooperation between the
member tribes. Surrounding the map is the association's name and acronym in black
letters. .
Go on to the flag of the AlabamaQuassarte
