Lummi Totem Pole Journey honors earth, celebrates Cherry Point victory

About 300 people gathered for the 2016 Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole Journey celebration on August 25, 2016 at Seattleís Saint Markís Episcopal Cathedral. The Lummi Nation uses their annual totem pole journey to raise awareness of the fossil fuel industryís negative environmental effects.
About 300 people gathered for the 2016 Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole Journey celebration on Aug. 25, 2016 at Seattle’s Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral. The Lummi Nation uses its annual totem pole journey to raise awareness of the fossil fuel industry’s negative environmental effects. (Photo by Jovelle Tamayo.)

The Lummi Nation’s 22-foot long totem pole calling for environmental advocacy and celebrating a recent victory against a proposed coal terminal made a stop Thursday in Seattle.

About 300 people gathered for the Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole Journey celebration at Seattle’s Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral Thursday afternoon. The Lummi Nation, whose reservation is on Puget Sound north of Bellingham, uses their annual totem pole journey to raise awareness of the fossil fuel industry’s negative environmental effects.

The 22-foot western red cedar totem pole, carved by Jewell James of the Lummi Tribe and of the House of Tears Carvers, is making its way from the Lummi Nation’s reservation to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Other stops along the way include the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota, the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota.

Thursday’s ceremony also celebrated the tribe’s recent victory against a proposed coal terminal in Cherry Point, which was denied a permit by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The corps ruled the project would have infringed on the tribe’s treaty protected fishing rights.

At the event, speakers from the Sightline Institute, Sierra Club, Washington Interfaith Power and Light, Earth Ministry and the Lummi Indian Business Council urged audience members to stay informed and take action against fossil fuel projects that threaten the environment, specifically on indigenous lands.

“The Northwest will play a very big role in protecting the future of the planet’s climate,” said Tarika Powell, Senior Research Associate at the Sightline Institute.

Tribal elders greet the audience during the 2016 Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole Journey celebration on August 25, 2016 at Seattleís Saint Markís Episcopal Cathedral. The Lummi Nation uses their annual totem pole journey to raise awareness of the fossil fuel industryís negative environmental effects.
Tribal elders greet the audience during the 2016 Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole Journey celebration on Aug. 25, 2016 at Seattle’s Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral. (Photo by Jovelle Tamayo.)
Chief Phil Lane, Jr. addresses the audience during the 2016 Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole Journey celebration on August 25, 2016 at Seattleís Saint Markís Episcopal Cathedral. The Lummi Nation uses their annual totem pole journey to raise awareness of the fossil fuel industryís negative environmental effects.
Chief Phil Lane, Jr. addresses the audience during the 2016 Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole Journey celebration on Aug. 25, 2016. (Photo by Jovelle Tamayo.)
The Seattle Peace Choir performs at the 2016 Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole Journey celebration on August 25, 2016 at Seattleís Saint Markís Episcopal Cathedral. The Lummi Nation uses their annual totem pole journey to raise awareness of the fossil fuel industryís negative environmental effects.
The Seattle Peace Choir performs at the 2016 Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole Journey celebration in Seattle on Aug. 25, 2016. (Photo by Jovelle Tamayo.)
Attendees of the 2016 Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole Journey celebration in Seattle on August 25, 2016 look at a traveling mural titled, ìOur Painted Responsibilities.î About 300 people gathered for the 2016 Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole Journey celebration on August 25, 2016 at Seattleís Saint Markís Episcopal Cathedral. The Lummi Nation uses their annual totem pole journey to raise awareness of the fossil fuel industryís negative environmental effects.
Attendees of the 2016 Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole Journey celebration in Seattle on Aug. 25, 2016 look at a traveling mural titled, “Our Painted Responsibilities.” (Photo by Jovelle Tamayo)
About 300 people gathered for the 2016 Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole Journey celebration on August 25, 2016 at Seattleís Saint Markís Episcopal Cathedral. The Lummi Nation uses their annual totem pole journey to raise awareness of the fossil fuel industryís negative environmental effects.
About 300 people gathered for the 2016 Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole Journey celebration on Aug. 25, 2016 at Seattle’s Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral. (Photo by Jovelle Tamayo.)
Afrin Sopariwala, of Women of Color Speak Out, participates in a smudging ceremony at the 2016 Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole Journey celebration on August 25, 2016 at Seattleís Saint Markís Episcopal Cathedral.
Afrin Sopariwala, of Women of Color Speak Out, participates in a smudging ceremony at the 2016 Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole Journey celebration on Aug. 25, 2016 in Seattle. (Photo by Jovelle Tamayo.)
People offer individual blessings of the Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole during its 2016 journey celebration on August 25, 2016 at Seattleís Saint Markís Episcopal Cathedral.
One participant offers an individual blessing of the Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole Aug. 25, 2016 at Seattle’s Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral. (Photo by Jovelle Tamayo.)
People offer individual blessings of the Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole during its 2016 journey celebration on August 25, 2016 at Seattle's Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral. (Photo by Jovelle Tamayo.)
A participant offers an individual blessings of the Lummi Nation House of Tears Totem Pole. (Photo by Jovelle Tamayo.)

1 Comment

  1. Jovelle, these are absolutely beautiful photographs. And of course the subject of Lummi Tribe and the totem journey is profound. Thank you sharing this vision with the world…

Comments are closed.

1 Comment

  1. Jovelle, these are absolutely beautiful photographs. And of course the subject of Lummi Tribe and the totem journey is profound. Thank you sharing this vision with the world…

Comments are closed.