Bill Matt Sr. has been an enrolled member of the Spokane Tribe of Indians for 72 years. Growing up next to the Spokane River in Peaceful Valley, Bill was taught Spokane Tribe traditions and stories by his grandfather who was born in 1881, his grandmother, his mother and aunties. Bill is commonly a culture advisor for the Spokane Tribe and is an army veteran.

Bill has worked for the Spokane Tribe in the Natural Resources Department for 36 years. Beginning his career for the Spokane Tribe in the Fisheries Program, Bill is currently serving as the Environmental Enforcement Officer protecting the Reservation from illegal dumping.

Bill Matt Sr. was one of the founders the Spokane Tribe’s Wildlife Committee, which have been the game commissioners for the Tribe for 36 years, and has served as the Wildlife Committee Chairman for the Spokane Tribe for 16 years. The Spokane Tribe’s Wildlife Committee in the early 2000’s was able to network with federal hatcheries to provide salmon to the Spokane membership for consumption, which had not been available to the tribe since the Columbia River was blocked by Grand Coulee Dam.

Email:  billmatt@spokanetribe.com