Lummi Nation wields art in battle against coal
In support of “unconditional and unequivocal opposition to the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal” expressed recently to federal, state and local officials, the Lummi Nation will conduct a 1,500 mile “We draw the line” journey from the coal source in Wyoming to the proposed coal terminal at Cherry Point, north of Bellingham. The tribal delegation on the journey will accompany the Kwel ‘hoy (“We draw the line”) totem pole, now being carved by Lummi master carver Jewell James and his House of Tears carvers…The two-week journey will generally follow the coal train path from the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming, connecting with Indian tribes, towns, cities and rural residents along the route to Xwe’chienXen, the name for the 3,500 year-old Lummi village site and burial ground located at the site of the proposed coal port.