WHEREAS, The Treaty of Medicine Creek of 1854 took away millions of acres of land from the Native American tribes in the South Puget Sound region, restricted them to reservations, and cut off access to rivers and their fishing livelihood; and
     WHEREAS, Chief Leschi of the Nisqually Tribe gained the enmity of Washington Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens by refusing to sign the Treaty of Medicine Creek and warning other tribal leaders not to go along with the treaty; and
     WHEREAS, Chief Leschi and his brother, Quiemuth, taught that there was enough land and food for both the tribes and the settlers as long as greed and prejudice did not take over; and
     WHEREAS, Chief Leschi was tried for killing a soldier in the regular army even though there was no actual proof that he was at the scene at the time of the soldier's death, and his trial ended in a hung jury; and
     WHEREAS, A second trial was held at the insistence of the territorial governor, after which Chief Leschi was sentenced to hang; and
     WHEREAS, In 2004, Chief Leschi was exonerated and found not guilty by a panel of jurists that included Supreme Court Justice Gary Alexander and Pierce County Executive John Ladenberg; and
     WHEREAS, Today, February 19, 2008, marks the 150th anniversary of the death of Chief Leschi of the Nisqually Tribe in Fort Steilacoom;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives, on behalf of the people of our state, recognize and honor the memory of Chief Leschi as a leader who spoke and acted for the dignity and survival of his people, and gave his life standing for justice.