Sandy Point Alliance

Last Updated 12.21.03

Sandy Point, in Whatcom County, is located within the boundaries of the Lummi Indian Reservation. Since the 1950's, Non-Indians purchased land within the Reservation's boundaries, and built houses and bulkheads on their property. Over time, erosion has changed the contour and elevation of the beaches within the Reservation. The Lummi Indian Tribe is presently attempting to force land owners into tideland leases based on the beachs' eroded elevation, and now has enlisted the help of the U.S. Attorney in Seattle, who has sued six lot owners on West Beach for trespass. (Click here for highlights of the Federal Suit and how it affects you). The Tribe is also attempting to control water availability to lots that are owned by Non-Indians, collect taxes on utilities supplied to Non-Indians, and close the Sandy Point Canal entrance.

The Sandy Point Alliance (SPA) has been formed to protect the interests of all Non-Indian landowners within the boundaries of the Reservation. If residents don't work together actively to protect their property rights, the Lummi Tribe may prevail in controlling Non-Indian property. The impact of Lummi control to Non-Indian land owners would be outright loss of land to the Tribe, extremely expensive leases for canal entrance and bulkhead trespass, loss of property value, and diminishment of the enjoyment of living in this unique waterfront community.

We need your help to defend your property! Please join the Sandy Point Alliance, which is a community association for all Non-Indian landowners within the boundaries of the Lummi Reservation. SPA is working hard to defend your property rights. Click here for a form to join SPA. Please also talk to you neighbors about SPA and ask them to join and contribute. We need the support of all Non-Indian landowners to prevent the Lummi Tribe from gaining control over our property.

What's New in December 2003?

What's in this Website:

The Sandy Point Alliance Mission Statement, explains SPA and it's goals and objectives.

The Sandy Point Defender is our community publication of current events and legal updates.

A Chronology of Events describes the history of Sandy Point land issues, as well as the belligerent actions by the Tribe's Lummi Indian Business Council (LIBC).

Several other Organizations are working on issues of Non-Indian property rights within reservation boundaries. Here are links to Organizations' Websites.

Email addresses of Elected Officials can be found here. We need to remind the people we elect that they're working for all citizens, not just special interests like Indian Tribes.

The Sandy Point community frequently receives media coverage that is distorted and heavily biased toward the Lummi Tribe. This link will take you to a site where you can easily write letters to the print and broadcast media. Tell them what you think of their Sandy Point Reporting!

The State of Washington Department of Ecology has taken aerial photographs of Sandy Point and of the beach northward toward the three industrial piers. Photos at DOE's website are scrollable, and some of the refinery photo's clearly show blockage of the natural littoral drift of beach material North-to-South.

The SPA Board of Directors are volunteers working hard to protect the rights of Non-Indian landowners. Please contact any of the Board members with questions or comments about SPA activities, or to volunteer for SPA activities.

Please consider joining SPA and helping defend your property. Our future as landowners within the Lummi Reservation is literally at stake.

If you'd like to write a 'Letter to the Sandy Point Defender Editor' click here.

Any comments or questions about this website? Email the SPA webmaster.

The Sandy Point Alliance is a tax-exempt, non-profit public educational organization, incorporated in the State of Washington in 1998, and organized for public policy purposes, and not for the private gain of any person.