Photos: Along 'Red Road to D.C.,' Lummi Nation carvers call for the protection of sacred lands
The House of Tears Carvers of the Lummi Nation have carved a 24-foot totem pole that will travel from Washington state to Washington D.C. this summer, calling for the urgent protection of sacred Indigenous places along the way.
"We have a job to do for our children’s children," said master carver Jewell Praying Wolf James, during a blessing ceremony for the totem pole on May 22 outside of Seattle's Pike Place Market.
"As the pole travels it draws lines of connection — honoring, uniting and empowering communities working to protect sacred places," reads the totem pole journey website. “Now is the time to implement policies to protect, restore and renew sacred places, lands and waterways…”
In the same area where the Williams family has carved for generations, dozens gathered to witness the totem pole before the journey resumed.
Following the blessing near Seattle's Pike Place Market, a second ceremony was held near the John T. Williams memorial totem pole at Seattle Center.
“I told the police, I told the government, ‘you may have taken my brother but you can’t take my heart or soul. Rain or shine, I’m out here carving,'" said Rick Williams, while addressing the crowd .
John T. Williams was fatally shot by a Seattle police officer in 2010.
“It’s about heritage,” said Rick Williams. “This is for my brother.”
In addition to singing traditional songs and drumming, speakers addressed issues of police violence, voter suppression, and the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons.
