Lummi Nation LFPA Plus Executive Summary

The Lummi Nation’s main purpose for LFPA+ funds is to procure seafood from local tribal fishermen and distribute to Lummi Nation eligible tribal members. The Lummi Nation’s treaty fishing rights have been reserved as signatories to the Point Elliot Treaty of 1855. All fishermen that exercise these rights commercially are essentially small business owners and are limited for various reasons to a handful of market buyers. These buyers procure seafood from our fishermen and in turn sell to another market buyer and the seafood harvest can at time cross 2 to 3 buyers before it is sold on market. LFPA+ will increase the profit for many of the fishermen by purchasing seafood from them at fair market rate with strict internal process such as Lummi Indian Business Councils (LIBC) procurement and financial policies. LFPA+ Program plans to coordinate with the Lummi Nations Natural Resource Department, Lummi Nations Fish Commission, and the Food Sovereignty Commission – to ensure a fair and equitable process is laid out for all fishermen and abide by LIBC procurement and LIBC finance policies. By procuring seafood and increasing the value of the fishermen’s catch it gives many fishermen an opportunity to not only grow but learn the value of processing its own catch and selling it directly to an available market increasing their bottom line. Lastly, feeding the spirit of Lummi tribal members as many households go without having the means or resources to purchase or catch certain traditional staple foods such as halibut, crab, shrimp, clams, and salmon.