The Colville Tribes have banned state Department of Fish and Wildlife officers from enforcing hunting and fishing laws on the Colville Indian Reservation.

On March 17, the governing Colville Business Council passed a resolution declaring an official ban preventing Wildlife enforcement officers from “acting in their official capacity” on the reservation.

The resolution, which passed 8-0, states the ban is “due to their failure to honor the tribes lawfully issued nonmember fishing permits.”

Colville Tribal Chairman Michael Finley said he won’t comment on the resolution while the tribe is trying to work through issues with the state.

State Fish and Wildlife officials said they’re not exactly sure why the tribe has banned their agents from working on the reservation, but said they, too, hope to work through the issue in upcoming negotiations.