Puyallup Tribe Resists Fracked Gas Facility
by Darren Moore
Wednesday, April 12th, 2017 – Tacoma, Washington. The Pacific Northwest sky was its typical early April self: a textured expanse of grey, heavy with the promise of rain. It hovered over a vacant lot on the Port of Tacoma, a lot that has become the center of a growing storm of its own—a proposed Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility. On this day, a modest gathering of about 20 people assembled on the edge of the empty space, peering through the fence as if staring into the eye of an approaching tempest.
The individuals, a blend of local residents, Water Protectors, and Puyallup Tribal members, were a tangible embodiment of an uneasy sentiment brewing in the community. In the midst of the grey, they were beacons of color and emotion, holding placards, eyes filled with a mix of determination and trepidation.
Among them was James Rideout, a candidate for the Puyallup Tribal Council. Standing beside him was Anna Bean, another tribal advocate. Talking to the groups scientist, Steve Storms, were tribal members Dakota Case and his brother Moe, who brought a sign asking people to ‘Stand with Puyallup Tribe.’
Roxy Murray, of Climate: First Responders, paced nervously near the group, her gaze fixed on the empty lot where the 14-story LNG storage tank was set to rise. “I’m scared,” she admitted. “Puget Sound Energy is proceeding despite the Puyallup Tribe’s ongoing lawsuits. They don’t seem to care.”
That lack of care has been palpable. Critics accuse PSE and the City of Tacoma of skirting proper regulatory channels, hastily passing an inadequate Environmental Impact Statement, and flagrantly ignoring treaty obligations and consultations with the Puyallup Tribe. The project also raises alarming public safety concerns due to its proximity to residential areas.
Rideout took a step forward, his eyes meeting those of each person in the small crowd. “How far are you willing to go?” he asked, his voice tinged with urgency. “Are you willing to pay the ultimate price?”
It was a sobering moment. Every individual standing on that cold, grey April afternoon faced an implicit decision. For the Puyallup Tribe, it was more than just a matter of opposing an industrial blight; it involved their heritage, treaty rights, and the sanctity of the land and water they have revered for generations.
Though small, this gathering was seminal—a first organized stance, a sentinel event in what promises to be a long-standing fight. They were now bound by a collective, growing realization that sometimes resistance begins with a single, unified voice saying, “Enough is enough.” And as the group dispersed, leaving behind the vacant lot still echoing with their words and footsteps, one thing became clear: this wasn’t the end, but a beginning.
And so, beneath a sky that mirrored the mood of the gathering, a group that was more than the sum of its parts walked away, each step imbued with the weight of the choice they’d made: to be part of a larger resistance movement, fighting for justice, environmental safety, and the sovereignty of the Puyallup Tribe. They left with the unspoken understanding that this grey early evening meetup was just a prologue in a much longer, unwavering narrative—one they were now a part of.
Relation to Ancestral Waters: A Documentary
First appearing on April 12, 2017, this article is part of an ongoing series documenting the Indigenous-led campaign against the Tacoma LNG facility.
The article has since been edited to remove time-sensitive elements, such as calls to action, in order to serve as an historical and educational resource. You can also explore other related articles and resources on the Ancestral Waters page for a more contextual understanding of the issues and events.
While the full “Ancestral Waters” documentary is available for screenings, we invite you to watch the trailer for a glimpse into the comprehensive story of resiliency and activism told in the film.
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