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8introductionfriend said, ‘But the really amazing thing was that you spent 45minutes arguing with the governor and didn’t cuss once!’“‘Goddamn it. I didn’t, did I?’”It is often said that Billy’s last name describes his attitude, and thatday in the governor’s office, the straight-shooting Nisqually lived upto his reputation. “I want respect for my people. I want respect forour culture. I want respect for our natural resources.”For all the complexities that surround Billy’s life work, his guidingphilosophy is simple: live in balance with the earth; there are consequencesfor tampering with nature. Tell the truth, even if there’snothing more difficult. Treat people with dignity, including yourenemies.Billy’s passion is the work of many lifetimes. His journey has beenslow going, tough going, and sometimes, not going at all. “They’realways coming after me,” Billy says of critics. Squabbles are so commonin Indian Country that sometimes even the courts throw up theirhands at the infighting. In the 1960s, Nisqually leaders labeled Billy arenegade. “He was ostracized by his own tribe and that just madehim tougher than the dickens,” says Guy McMinds, a Quinault triballeader. Sometimes, Billy is begrudged for getting too much credit.The history between the smoke shop owned by Billy’s family andthe Nisqually Tribe is long and difficult. “There may never be peace,”says family. “There’s some people that don’t support him,” acknowledgesZelma McCloud, onetime Nisqually chairwoman, “but notthat many. He’ll go down in history . . . like our Chief Leschi.” To thisday, opponents in a landmark court opinion over fishing rights claimthe sweeping decision tipped the scales too far toward the Indians.Billy is a master of forgiveness. “Dad never did want to go aroundand start trouble,” says Sugar, Billy’s oldest son. “He always tried tosettle it. . . . He’s strong. He can have people yell and scream and callhim all kinds of names and he just smiles and walks away.” “It doesn’tmatter how people treat him,” agrees Willie, Billy’s youngest child.“He’s always going to treat them with respect.”