Right now, carvers from the Lummi Nation House of Tears Carvers are on the road with a 22-foot long totem pole. Their journey unites indigenous peoples and other communities across the Pacific Northwest who stand in opposition fossil fuel companies’ plans to export coal and oil from our region. The carvers are delivering the totem pole to Northern Cheyenne tribal allies fighting proposed coal mines slated to supply export terminals in our region.
The totem pole journey began on August 21, 2015 with a Blessing Ceremony with the Tslil-Waututh Nation in Vancouver, British Columbia. The totem pole will be blessed in 12 different ceremonies across the Pacific Northwest before it is raised on the Northern Cheyenne reservation in Lame Deer, Montana on August 30, 2015.
Columbia Riverkeeper staff had the honor of attending three Blessing Ceremonies to demonstrate support for the Lummi Nation and build relationships to further our joint efforts to protect our scared waterways and salmon.
Here’s what Riverkeeper staff had to say about attending each Lummi Nation totem pole Blessing Ceremony:
August 23, 2015 Longview, WA
“Faith and tribal leaders from Southwest Washington came together to bless the totem pole and pray for its safe delivery to the Northern Cheyenne. It was an honor to witness this historic moment. Seeing so many communities stand united in opposition to coal export gives me hope. Coal’s days are numbered because people want to stand on the right side of history and give the next generation a better chance.”
- Jasmine Zimmer-Stucky, Community Organizer
August 24, 2015 Portland, OR
“Our canvass team shared news of the Lummi totem pole at the door when talking to Columbia Riverkeeper members. People were thrilled to hear the news of their tour and it was powerful to see so many members at the Blessing Ceremony. It’s important to me that the canvass team serves to support the efforts of the Lummi to prevent fossil fuel shipments in the Pacific Northwest.”
- Rob Cochran, Canvass Director
August 25, 2015 Hood River, OR
“Indigenous nations have protected the land and waters of the Pacific Northwest since time immemorial. The transport of fossil fuels threatens that. It was an honor to participate in the totem pole journey and it is an honor to work every day to protect and restore the Columbia River.”
- Liz Terhaar, Administrative Coordinator
This year's totem pole journey comes at a defining moment for the effort to stop the proposed coal export terminal from being built at Xwe'chi'eXen, or Cherry Point, the ancestral sites and traditional fishing grounds of the Lummi Nation in Northwest Washington. You can show your support for the Lummi Nation by writing to your Members of Congress today. The Lummi Nation has formally requested that the US Army Corps of Engineers deny a permit to build the coal export terminal in Whatcom County because the impacts to tribal fishing cannot be mitigated. To approve the permit, the Tribe argues, would be a violation of their treaty rights. Please stand up to Big Coal and support the Lummi Nation today.
To see the full Lummi Nation House of Tears Carvers totem pole journey schedule please visit their website: http://totempolejourney.com/schedule/
