The Story of Sea Native USA Inc.
Sea Native USA Inc. was founded in Western Washington and shaped through deep relationships with several Pacific Northwest tribes whose fishing traditions have guided our purpose from the beginning. Our story reaches back to 2008, when I reunited with a long‑lost Native friend in Bellingham, Washington. He was from the Lummi Nation, and reconnecting with him felt like rediscovering a part of my own history.
Years earlier, I had departed from that area to begin my own journey — a journey that eventually led me to open Simply Thai in Tukwila. For nearly a decade, the restaurant grew with the support of our community, and our signature Simply Thai Dungeness Crab Fried Rice — made with crab harvested by tribal fishermen connected to my old friend — was featured by CBS MarketWatch. That recognition reminded both of us that our paths were still intertwined.
We decided to work together in the crab fishery. But there was one challenge: I was not a tribal member. To build a future that honored tribal heritage while allowing us to grow, I purchased Native American Seafood, a respected 40‑year‑old operation within the Lummi community. With that step, we created a bridge between tradition and opportunity.
Eventually, we moved operations to Seattle and became Sea Native USA Inc., carrying forward the legacy, knowledge, and values of Native American Seafood.
The Salmon’s Journey — and Mine
From tribal fishermen, I learned a powerful truth:
“Salmon fishing is not a business — it is a way of life.”
The salmon’s story mirrors my own.
Salmon begin in freshwater, then journey into the vast ocean. Years later, they return home — navigating twists, obstacles, and hardship — guided only by instinct, memory, and the scent of where they belong.
My life followed a similar path.
I was born in Laos. As a young child, I lost my mother during the Vietnam War, and later left my homeland to come to the United States as a teenage orphan.
My journey was filled with twists and turns—hardship, uncertainty, and many challenges along the way. Like the salmon, I traveled far from where I began. And like the salmon, I spent years searching for the place where I truly belonged.
Through resilience, hard work, and faith, I found a new home and a new purpose. My story is one of survival, strength, and returning to what matters most: family, tradition, and sharing something meaningful with others.
The salmon teaches us:
- Perseverance through hardship
- Purpose in every step of the journey
- Sacrifice so the next generation can thrive
- Returning home, no matter how far life carries you
Their story became my story — in a different form, but with the same spirit.
Why Sea Native Exists
My customers, partners, and tribal communities have become the family I once lost. You are the people who supported my journey, believed in my work, and helped me rebuild a life with meaning.
Sea Native USA exists because of you — and for you.
Our mission is simple:
To honor Native fishing traditions, respect the salmon’s wisdom, and give back to the community that became my home.
Every product we create, every partnership we build, and every story we share carries that purpose.
Sea Native USA is not just a seafood company. It is a journey, a heritage, and a promise — to serve with integrity, to respect the waters of the Pacific Northwest, and to give back to the people who helped me find my way home.