Submitted by Sam Buck Sr.

He has lived 89 years in the islands and gives this review of history, in his book “A Letter to the People of Our Amazing and Wonderful San Juan Islands.” His name is Sam Buck.

“1776 – Free people created America as a nation.

1873 – The American Territorial Legislature created San Juan County so American Government could serve and protect

the San Juan Islands, and gave the people living there the responsibility of governing themselves.

1889 – Washington became a state. San Juan County (The San Juan Islands) were established 16 years earlier as a sovereign territory of the nation of America. The San Juan Islands are in the state but not of the state.

As Giovanni Costigan of the University of Washington has stated, an American government is to serve and protect the people but not control them.

In my opinion, the state has stepped on the rights of San Juan County as a sovereign territory senior to the state of Washington by imposing controls like the Shoreline Management Act and the Critical Area Ordinance. I believe what the state has done is illegal, if not immoral.

For example, Friday Island Estates (Brown Island) and Cape San Juan were accepted as legal subdivisions which own their land, with their land use restrictions, by our San Juan County Commissioners and this is true of other land in the county. The land of the county, however, has been damaged by the Shoreline Management Act and the Critical Areas Ordinance. Those of us living in San Juan County have taken care of our land and ourselves for over 100 years. There is no need for state controls.”

In his book, Sam Buck proposes a new relationship between San Juan County and the State of Washington and issues a challenge to islanders to become more involved in the government of the San Juan Islands.

This book is available at Griffin Bay Bookstore and Island Studios in Friday Harbor.