The only basis for termination of Chinook Federal Recognition was the naming of 4 Chinook tribes in the 1954 W. Ore Termination Act, created to assimilate Indians into White culture.
After years of petitioning, the US reinstated the Chinooks in 2001. Then the Bush Administration rescinded the Recognition, dismissing extensive evidence of continuous Tribal existence. The Chinook satisfy all 6 criteria for Tribal Restoration: Ongoing community of Indians who are descendants of the Tribe; Located in the vicinity of the former lands; Performing self-governing functions through elected representatives/general membership meetings; Current use of aboriginal language/customs/culture; Marked deterioration in socioeconomic conditions since termination; & lower than average socioeconomic conditions.
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