WHRTF
HOME
Books
Calendar
Contact Us
Donations
Join
Newsletter
Photo Galleries
HISTORY
About Us
Human Rights
LINKS
Help
in Whatcom Co
Resource Sites
Solidarity
Free Speech
Local Business Support
ENDORSEMENTS
Against
neoNazi Mailings
FTAA
Austria
Makah
Whaling Rights
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE (July 31, 2002)
LUMMI NATION TO SEND GIFT IN MEMORY OF VICTIMS OF WTC
LUMMI NATION, WA- Beginning on August 20th, 2002 the Lummi Nation will be giving to America a symbol of healing from the wounds caused by the September 11th terrorist attack. In early July, Lummi Master Totem Pole Carver and current Lummi Indian Business Council Member Jewell James began carving a western red cedar log. The cedar log, donated by Crown Pacific Limited Partnership of Portland, Oregon, is completed and named "America's Healing Totem Pole."
On
September 7th, 2002 the gift will be placed in Arrow Park, New York, in
the Sterling Forest. This site has been dedicated to the memory of those
who perished at the World Trade Center.
America's Healing Totem Pole is designed to be a tribute to the concept of "Healing of Nations and people." Chairman Darrell Hillaire said: "We need to heal as a Nation (United States) and we need to heal as Indian Nations. Sacred ground is common ground, and we believe that the American people will heal over the tragedy caused by terrorism. The WTC site is sacred in the memory of those that have perished."
The Healing Totem Pole Journey will also be following the reverse route of the Lewis & Clark Trail of the early 1800s. "We will ask those tribes that were identified by Lewis & Clark, as well as their neighbor tribes, to come forward and bless the pole with their own songs and ceremonies," said Jewell James. "The tribal members of each visiting tribe will issue the "Call for Healing" amongst nations and people. They will be asked to come forward to voice their concerns and issue a call for all tribes to organize and unite," said Jewell James.
The 20,000-acre Sterling Forest, 1-hour north of Manhattan, is the sister forest of the Arlecho Creek Forest, located one hour north of Seattle, Washington. The Lummi Tribe, working with the Sterling Forest Partnership, Crown Pacific Partnership, the Nature Conservancy of Washington, and the Native American Land Conservancy of California, has raised $5.5 million of the $7.1 million needed to acquire and preserve Arlecho Creek for future generations. Arlecho Creek Forest is a spiritual sanctuary for the traditional Indians of the Lummi Nation and other Coast Salish people.
Chairman Hillaire said: "The heart of the story is not endangered species or imperiled cultures. Rather, the story is all about the spiritual investment of the Indian People in the belief that symbols and sacred sites help the process of healing. We believe that this totem pole will symbolize the united tribes' efforts to challenge the United States and the international community to seek healing and find Peace amongst Nations. Significantly, the pole symbolizes the call for harmony and healing in the relationships between the United States and America's First People and the need to protect Native American Sacred Sites."
The Healing Totem Pole will begin its journey across the United States on August 22nd at Lummi's sacred site of Semiahmah (near city of Blaine, WA). There are a series of stops between Semiahmah and the Sterling Forest Site at September 7, 2002. Please see attachment of scheduled stops. "We shall recognize the Native Nations of New York as well as memorialize the victims of the Twin Towers," said James. .
August 2002