By Barbara Keller of  San Juans Alliance and Kurt Russo of Lummi Sovereignty and Treaty Protection Office

For over a year concern about the impacts of the Northwest’s largest proposed coal terminal north of Bellingham has brought together people wanting to ensure that this project does not destroy our ecosystems.  The group with the longest standing claim to Xwe’chi’eXen (Cherry Point)  is the Lummi people.

Over the last months, the Gateway Pacific Terminal plan has been undergoing the beginning of a mandated environmental review.  As part of this process the Lummi submitted a list of concerns.  Most recently they wrote the Army Corps of Engineers stating their “unconditional and unequivocal opposition”.  Jay Julius, a Lummi Councilman, has been at the forefront of drawing the line based on treaty rights and the protection of sacred lands and waters.

The Lummi people have created a tradition of carving totem poles for areas in need of hope and healing. Now Lummi  community’s sacred landscape at Xwe’chi’eXen needs hope, healing and protection.  Today Master Carver Jewell Praying Wolf James, who carved totem poles for each of the 9/11 sites to help heal the American Nation and the National Library of Medicine, is carving a new totem pole.  The Kwel hoy’  totem pole he is now completing will, in September, start a 1500 mile journey through tribes, towns, and cities along the rail line from the Powder River basin to Xwe’chi’eXen, the same journey the coal trains will make.

Along the way, tribes and ranchers, workers and communities along its path will have a chance to tell their story, hear how this project will impact others, unify the west, and help to “draw the line.”  The new totem pole will focus discussion on the impacts and concerns in the plains, on the Columbia, in the cities of the train route and the shipping lanes of our islands.

And of course, to Cherry Point.  As Mr. Julius has said, ” “Xwe’chi’eXen is our Arlington, our Gettysburg, our  Jerusalem, our Holy Ground.”

To learn more about the Totem Pole Journey or make a tax-deductible donation please go to www.totempolejourney.com.  For more information on the No Coal issue go to www.powerpastcoal.org.