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76renegadesWhen we got stronger, we broke them. . . . The government hasbeen trying to divide and conquer the Indians. Their rights must beprotected.”The officer put a quick end to the hostile banter and the show forthe crowd: “I won’t argue with you. You should have your day incourt. I think that’s what you’re looking for.”Brando tossed his fish to an Indian in response as a woman yelled:“You can’t do this to us. We have a treaty!”“What are you going to do with the fish, give them to some whiteman?” snapped another with a baby strapped to her back.“This is all they have left,” Brando said. “Everything has been takenfrom them. They intend to hang on to these fishing rights.”The state said it had no intention of making arrests, but NormMattson pulled Brando into custody for catching a couple of eightpoundsteelhead. Reputedly, Suzan Satiacum, Bob Satiacum’s wife,scratched Mattson and even spat in his face.A prosecutor from Pierce County, John McCutcheon, called thewhole affair window dressing. “Brando’s no fisherman!” he grumbled.Eight days later, the court dismissed the case against Bob Satiacum;charges against Brando and the Reverend Yaryan were never filed.Promising a violence-free protest, tribes from across the countryconverged on the Capitol the next day. Indians from other areas, suchas the Seminoles of Florida and the Nez Perce of Coeur d’Alene, tookpart in the “largest intertribal demonstration” ever held there,organized by Hank Adams. Many were the great-great-great-greatgrandchildren of the treaty signers. Tribal leaders danced. Theydelivered impassioned speeches. Accompanied by Brando, theyroamed the halls of the legislative building in full regalia. “We wereending the government’s divide-and-rule system among Indians,”announced Thom.The tribes issued a Proclamation of Protest, calling for the creationof a Native advisory committee and scientific research of tribes andcommercial fishing, as well as an end to fishing arrests in “usual and