Search PNC News for stories of people and churches in our UCC Conference:

 

Lummi invite faith community to join Totem Pole Journey

The Lummi Nation has carved a totem pole called Kwel’hoy—“we draw the line” —expressing their opposition to the proposed coal terminal at Cherry Point near Bellingham on the sacred land they call Xwe’chi’eXen.

 Beginning Sept. 18 on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana, leaders from the Lummi Nation and other tribes affected by coal mining and export will travel 1,500 miles on a Totem Pole Journey, a journey of blessing and protection along the rail line from the coal fields of Wyoming and Montana to Southwest British Columbia, where the totem pole will stand guard over sacred lands.

Faith, environmental, and civic leaders are joining them in ceremonies at stops along the way. There are ceremonies at 10 a.m., Sept. 18 at Otter Creek; at 3 p.m., Sept. 19 in Missoula, at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 20, at Havermale Point 507 N. Howard in Spokane; at 5 p.m., Monday, Sept. 23, in Portland; at noon, Tuesday, Sept. 24, at Tivoli Fountain, Capitol Campus in Olympia; at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 25, at St. Leo Church in Tacoma; at 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 27, at Xwe’chi’eXen, and
on Sunday, Sept. 29, at Tsleil-Waututh in British Columbia.

The Lummi have a tradition of carving and delivering totem poles to areas struck by disaster or in need of hope and healing.

“It is our turn to repay a tiny portion of the debt we owe,” said Jessie Dye, program and outreach director of Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power and Light, encouraging the faith community to participate.

The largest coal export terminal in North America, proposed at Xwe’chi’eXen, would destroy Lummi burial grounds, holy sites, treaty rights, fisheries and—with fishing the basis of Lummi life—the spirit of the people.

For information, call 206-632-2426 or visit www.totempolejourney.com.

Copyright © September 2013 - Pacific Northwest Conference UCC News

 

Share this article on your favorite social media