The Colville Tribes grieves the loss of former Chairman Michael Finley

NESPELEM -  The Colville Tribes is saddened to announce the passing of former Chairman Michael Finley. The Lucy Covington Government Center flew flags at half-staff in his honor.

Finley was a three-time Chairman of the Colville Tribes and his accomplishments were numerous. He presided over Colville’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) in 2008 with the Bonneville Power Administration for acquisition and management of habitat for resident and anadromous fish. While Chairman, Finley also served as Chairman of the Inter-Tribal Monitoring Association for Indian Trust Funds. In 2012 the Tribes settled a breach of trust lawsuit with the federal government for $193 million under Finley’s leadership. He served as Chairman during the DNA testing that confirmed the Ancient One’s (Kennewick Man) genetic link to the modern Colville Tribes and he worked passionately for the return of the Ancient One. Finley testified before Congress on numerous occasions on behalf of the Colville Tribes as Chairman.

Finley also distinguished himself outside of his service as tribal chairman. He earned a BA in American Indian studies and history in 2003 and a master’s degree in history in 2005 from Eastern Washington University and served on the EWU Board of Trustees. He was a co-author of the book “Finding Chief Kamiakin: The Life and Legacy of a Northwest Patriot.” He assisted with the Sinixt ethnoreport which informed the Colville Tribes’ successful litigation of the Desautel case in the Canadian Supreme Court that re-affirmed the Sinixt as a First Nations people in Canada. Finly received numerous awards for his academic and professional achievements. He served as the First Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians.

Finley worked for the tribes’ History and Archaeology Department and was an outstanding researcher, often finding overlooked or new data while visiting museums and archives. He collaborated with scholars such as Richard Scheuerman and historians such as Richard Hart. He interviewed roughly 75 tribal elders to write several reports on traditional cultural properties. He contributed a chapter to Kennewick Man: Perspectives on the Ancient One. Finley also worked on archaeological surveys and excavations with a focus on the Upper Columbia River.

“Former Chairman Finley spent his life in service of the Colville people,” said CCT Chairman Jarred-Michael Erickson both in preserving our history and in leading our way into the future,” said CCT Chairman Jarred-Michael Erickson. “He leaves behind a family and many friends who love him. Mike will live on as part of the Colville tribal history he loved.”