Billy Frank JR.
Billy Frank JR. was a native American from the Nisqually Indian community born in Nisqually Washington. He was march 9, 1931 and he died May 5, 2014, at the age of 83. His mother’s name was Angeline Frank and his father was Willie Frank. Billy helped with hunting and fishing rights in the 60’s and 70’s.Billy also wrote a book called Tell The Truth it was about tribal life, fishing rights, and ancestry of native American life. He was a tribal leader and a part of the Nisqually native council.
“I don’t believe in magic. I believe in the sun and the stars, the wind, the tide, the floods, the owls, the hawks flying, the rivers running, the wind talking. They’re measurements. They tell us how healthy things are. How healthy we are. Because we and they are the same. That's what I believe in.”-Billy Frank JR. He believed in things that he could see, understand, and explain.
In November 2015, Billy was awarded the presidential medal of freedom, the highest national civil honor. He was also an environmental leader and treaty rights activist. He got the privilege to meet with the president of the united states at the time who was Barack Obama. The following month, the Nisqually national wildlife refuge was renamed in Billy's honor.