These events culminated in the Boldt Decision, which affirmed that Washington state tribes were entitled to fifty percent of the annual fish harvest.

[2] In recognition of his contributions, Frank was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in November 2015.

His father had purchased this land after the family's forced relocation from their reservation due to the expansion of an adjacent Army base.

[11] "Fish-ins" Based on treaties negotiated with the U.S. government in the 1850s, tribal nations in western Washington retained the right to fish, hunt, and gather shellfish at their customary places, shared with all U.S.

[12] However, when tribal members sought to exercise these treaty rights outside of reservations, they faced arrests for fishing in violation of state laws.

These demonstrations gained nationwide attention and even attracted participation from celebrities; notably, actor Marlon Brando was arrested during one of these protests in 1964.

[8] "Fish-ins" were coordinated by the newly formed Survival of the American Indian Society (SAIA), a group in which Frank played a pivotal role as a founding member.

The SAIA worked to reframe the history of Native American arrests related to fishing rights, extending their protests back to the 1930s.

Headquartered in Olympia, Washington, with additional offices in Forks and Mount Vernon, the NWIFC was chaired by Frank for over three decades, from 1981 until his passing on May 5, 2014.

[17] The commission's staff of 65 individuals assists member tribes in various endeavors, including fish health, salmon management planning, and habitat protection.