LNR Director

Merle Jefferson
Merle Jefferson, Sr. has been the Executive Director of the Lummi Natural Resources Department since 1985. He graduated from Ferndale High School in 1969 and the Lummi School of Aquaculture in 1971. He was an instructor at the Aquaculture school for five years. He was elected four times to serve on the Lummi Indian Business Council for a total of 12 years. He is a commercial, ceremonial, and subsistence fisherman and has served or chaired a number of commissions and boards including the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, the Lummi Fish Commission, the Lummi Housing Board, the Northwest Indian College Board, the Lummi Development Authority, and the Lummi Commercial Company. He is the Lead Policy representative for the Lummi Water Team and the Lummi Tidelands Team and serves on numerous other negotiation teams. He was born in a house without running water and has seen many changes occur on the Reservation over the last 50 years.

Contact:
(360) 312-2328 (Office)
(360) 410-1706 (Cell)