Gary Morishima
Quinault Indian Nation
Biographical Sketch: Gary Morishima has over 40 years of experience in natural resource management, policy analysis, computer simulation modeling and mathematical statistics.
Education: B.S. (Mathematics). Ph.D. in Quantitative Science & Environmental Management, both from the University of Washington. Areas of study and expertise: fisheries population dynamics, operations research, resource economics, numerical analysis, and mathematical statistics.
He has served as Technical Advisor for Natural Resources to the President of the Quinault Indian Nation since 1974,
providing information and assistance in matters pertaining to forestry, fisheries, climate change, and
interjurisdictional natural resources management. He has been the CEO of his natural resources consulting firm,
MORI-ko LLC, since 1969, which specializes in providing consulting services to Indian tribes, government agencies,
and private industry in areas pertaining to computer simulation of natural resource management systems, statistical analysis, forestry and fisheries management, workshop organization and conduct, conflict resolution, and meeting facilitation.
He has been active in a variety of legislative and judicial processes, appearing as an expert witness in court
proceedings and testifying before Congress on matters relating to natural resource management, trust reform, and
Indian policy. During his service as a Technical Advisor to the Quinault Indian Nation, Gary worked on a number of
landmark issues, including self-determination and self-governance. He also served as Forest Manager for the
Quinault Indian Nation, establishing a program that helped pave the way for greater tribal involvement and self
determination in forest management. Gary was one of the founders of the Intertribal Timber Council and has
served on its Executive Board since its inception in 1976.
Gary served on the Salmon Technical Team of the Pacific Fishery Management Council for over 25 years, on special
expert panels established by the Pacific Salmon Commission and Independent Scientific Advisory Board of the
Northwest Power and Planning Council (Columbia River), and currently chairs several technical committees for the
United States section of the Pacific Salmon Commission. Gary was appointed to the Intergovernmental Advisory
Council by the US Secretary of Agriculture to provide advice regarding implementation of the Northwest Forest Plan
and to the Salmon and Steelhead Advisory Commission by the Secretary of Commerce. He has served on several
other commissions and task forces related to fisheries, tribal economics, and conflict resolution. He has also
participated in a variety of special projects, such as workgroups on climate change established by the Department
of the Interior and State of Washington, the development of legislation (e.g., Salmon and Steelhead Conservation
and Enhancement Act, National Indian Forest Resources Management Act), crafting the Secretarial Order on
American Indian Tribal Rights, Federal-Tribal Trust Responsibilities, and the Endangered Species Act, and a US
Forest Service National Task Force on Tribal-Federal Relations (1999-2003). Gary also provided technical support
for the Tribal Leaders Task Force on Trust Reform.
Gary has authored numerous publications and reports on natural resource management and has often been called
upon to make presentations before tribal, administrative, professional, academic, public and Congressional forums.
Gary is a recipient of the National Earle Wilcox Award for Outstanding Contributions to Indian Forestry and the
Pride in Excellence Award from The Boeing Company.
Papers:
156
Engagement of tribal and indigenous peoples in federal climate change initiatives