WHO: The House of Tears Carvers of the Lummi Nation with local faith, city, and community leaders.
WHAT: Blessing of the Shared Responsibilities Totem Pole Ceremony is an unprecedented gathering of tribal leadership, environmental and civic groups and organizations, the faith-based community, and the general public will take part in the blessing of the Lummi Indian community’s Shared Responsibilities totem pole.
The 2015 totem pole journey comes at a defining moment in the collaborative effort to defeat fossil fuel export proposals in Oregon and Washington. The 22-foot long totem pole is being donated by the Lummi Nation’s House of Tears Carvers and will make stops at each of the proposed coal ports in Oregon and Washington as well as in tribal communities and places of worship. The totem pole is destined for the Power River Basin, the source of the proposed coal that would be transported across the Pacific Northwest to Montana.
“We are all the promise keepers. We can, and must, stop this madness,” said Lummi Master Carver Jewell James. “As one of our elders recently put it: 'The ancestors expect it. The unborn demand.'"
“Cherry Point is the home of our ancient ones,” said Bill James, Chief of the Lummi Nation.
“The ancestors expect it. The unborn demand it,” said Jay Julius, Councilman, Lummi Nation.
WHEN: August 21-30, 2015.
WHERE: See tour schedule below.
WHY: 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. The House of Tears Carvers of the Lummi Nation, led by Master Carver Jewell James, will offer the totem pole as a gift to the Northern Cheyenne people at Otter Creek, the proposed site of a massive coal mining expansion intended to serve the proposal coal terminals in the Pacific Northwest. The Northern Cheyenne are standing in resistance to this coal mining expansion. The totem pole journey is our opportunity to join the Lummi Nation in standing with them. The totem pole journey includes stops all along the coal and oil train route including in Longview, Hood River, and Boardman. Each tour stop is unique and important to the fight against coal and oil transport threatening our region.
Tour Schedule:
Friday, 21 August 6:00-9:00 pm: TSLEIL-WAUTUTH NATION, Vancouver, BC
Grandview Calvary Baptist Church, 1803 E 1st Ave, Vancouver. (1 block east of 1st & Commercial). Community Dinner (donations accepted) and screening and discussion on Freddy Lane’s documentary “Our Shared Responsibilities” the 2014 Totem Pole Journey through the Pacific Northwest.
Saturday, August 22 at 10am-1pm: Totem Pole Journey arrival and ceremony outdoors12:00-1:00 pm: TSLEIL-WAUTUTH NATION, Vancouver, BC
Lunch in Community Centre, Free. Tsleil-Waututh Community Centre, 3010 Sleil Waututh Rd, North Vancouver, BC V7H 2V5.
Saturday, August 22 at 5:30pm: LUMMI NATION TRIBAL CENTER, Bellingham, WA
Blessing ceremony at the Tribal Administration Center, 2665 Kwina Road, Bellingham.
Sunday, August 23 at 10:00am: TULALIP NATION, Marysville, WA
Greg Williams Youth Center, 6700 Totem Beach Road, Marysville. Blessing will run in conjunction with Tulalip War Canoe Races event.
Sunday, August 23 at 6:00pm: LONGVIEW, WA
St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 1428 22nd Avenue, Longview. Potluck Dinner and Blessing ceremony.
Monday, August 24 at 5:30pm: PORTLAND, OR
St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, 2408 SE 16th Ave., Portland. Blessing ceremony.
Tuesday, August 25 at 12:30-1:30: HOOD RIVER, OR
Riverside Community Church (4th and State), Hood River. Blessing ceremony.
Tuesday, August 25: CELILO FALLS
Currently not open to the public. Blessing ceremony at the Celilo Falls longhouse.
Wednesday, August 26 at 10:00am: BOARDMAN, OR
Boardman Marina Park, 1 Marine Drive NW, Boardman. Blessing hosted by the Yakama Nation.
Thursday, August 27 at 10:00am: SPOKANE, WA
Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane, 4340 W. Fort Wright Dr., Spokane. Blessing ceremony.
Friday, August 28 –10 AM, Missoula, MT
Har Shalom Synagogue, 3035 South Russell St.
Saturday, August 30 – NORTHERN CHEYENNE NATION
Final destination and totem pole raising ceremony in Montana.
