"United States v. Washington" is a significant legal case concerning the rights of Native American tribes. The case arose from disputes over fishing rights in the waters of the state of Washington. The U.S. government argued that the tribes had been guaranteed these rights through treaties signed in the 1850s. The ruling affirmed that the tribes retained their fishing rights, which were not extinguished by state laws. This decision reinforced the importance of honoring historical treaties and recognized the sovereignty of Native American tribes in managing their resources. The case has had lasting implications for tribal rights and state-federal relations.