We have been fighting to have a simple video camera included in these secret meetings for nearly a year now. Last year, they just blew us off, treating us with little more respect than the Wall Street Bankers show for the little guys who’ve lost everything to their corporate greed! Well, we ARE the little guy’s and our numbers grew! (Nearly 5000 to date and growing) Representatives and Senators support us! Media publications and electronic media have joined in support! Large and small sports organizations have voiced support. Yet, the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC) continues to obstruct, and WDFW continues to shadow the same ridicules mantra: ”These are Gov't to Gov't meetings" and therefor it's OK to keep the doors locked and the windows blacked out! They must think it’s OK to ignore the thousands of stakeholders who want open meetings… it’s OK to prevent the press from sitting in… IT'S OK TO MAKE DEALS THAT IMPACT ALL THE CITIZEN'S IN WASHINGTON STATE WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC OVERSIGHT AT ALL! We are not asking for anything that would impact or disrupt these negotiations. We simply want to be able to witness, first hand what and how things are conducted. WDFW and the Tribes are making decisions and deals that directly impact everyone, so why are we not allowed to see and hear the discussions? They are not discussing national secrets or military operations. They ARE dividing up salmon, making policies and setting closures! We are reminded how the Chairwoman for the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission has stated many, many times about how important cooperation is to our salmon management. Perhaps she meant cooperation as long as its about something they agree to! Perhaps they NEED to keep these meetings secret because commercial harvest and money are the priority, not equality, conservation and sustainability? Or, maybe the NWIFC really does have all the leverage and WDFW is just doing whatever they demand? After all, we just don’t know, because all they’ve said is “NO” and have NEVER addressed the WHY! What is really going on that the state and the tribes are so deathly afraid of us finding out? Last year, they just pushed the “little guy” aside. This year, thanks to you, it’s not going to be that easy!