A Totem Pole Unites Indigenous Resistance to Fossil Fuel Across North America · Global Voices
Photo posted on Facebook by <PERSON>.
This article is based on a piece written by <PERSON> and <PERSON> for 350.org, an organisation building a global climate movement, and is republished on Global Voices as part of a content-sharing agreement.
On August 23, a 22-foot totem pole left the Pacific Coast of the US state of Washington on a 5,000 mile journey to Canada. This marked the fourth year that the Lummi Nation, a Native American tribe, had organized a “totem pole journey” — a mission to “strengthen and expand” alliances between Indigenous peoples active in the resistance against the fossil fuel industry.
Earlier this year, the Lummi Nation celebrated a huge victory when it successfully blocked the largest coal port ever proposed in North America. Now, by sending this totem pole as a gift to the Treaty 1 people in Winnipeg, Canada, the nation is standing up in solidarity with the Indigenous peoples leading the fight against the Energy East tar sands pipeline, the largest proposed oil pipeline on the continent.
Once raised in Winnipeg, the totem pole is meant to “bear witness to the need for all peoples to work together in the name of our common humanity and our covenant with Mother Earth,” according to the totem pole journey website.
(Editor's note: 350.org alongside the Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition set up an art space in Winnipeg to train activists in the production of visual materials in support of the journey.)
<PERSON>, master carver at the House of Tears Carvers Studio and the man who led the crafting of the totem pole, made it clear that it would stand as a symbol of resistance, and that it would unite this community with other Indigenous-led fossil fuel fights across Turtle Island (as some Indigenous groups call the continent of North America):
We need to let them know they cannot in the name of profits do this to the people, the water, the land, and to the future generations. We will never give up.
The final masterpiece features a bald eagle with wings spread on top and a Medicine Wheel on its chest, and below that are a bear, wolf, and coyote. Closer to the base, an Indigenous chief has been carved facing a medicine woman. According to <PERSON>, “The medicine woman shows a connection to the Great Spirit; the eagle symbolizes wisdom and vision; the wolf is a scout or guide; and the bear provides strength.”
The totem pole journey began with an intimate blessing ceremony in Bellingham, Washington. Soon afterward, it made a stop in Seattle before it set off eastward. 91
Meanwhile, in Canada, community members in Winnipeg who are active in the struggle against the Energy East pipeline prepared to receive the gift. Watch <PERSON> from Winnipeg, Canada, speak on Facebook about the community’s plans for receiving this enormous gift.
Sacred Stone Camp and other stops
En route to Winnipeg, as an expression of solidarity, the totem pole journey ceremoniously stopped at numerous hot spots of Indigenous resistance to oil, coal and gas. This included a visit near Vancouver, Canada, to the T’Sleil Waututh Nation — another community fighting tar sands expansion—and a blessing stop in Missoula, Montana.
<PERSON>, Lummi elder sings at Missoula #totempolejourney stop. #StandingRock @350Canada @350 @missoulian pic.twitter.com/8qWBRq0zKf
— 350 Montana (@350Montana) 1 de septiembre de 2016
Most notably, the journey made a stop at the Sacred Stone Camp to show solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe which has been leading the iconic battle against the Dakota Access pipeline. “They’re exercising their religious freedom, freedom of press, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly — the right to speak out,” <PERSON> said.
<PERSON> and the #LummiNation Totem Pole arrive @sacredstonecamp #totempolejourney #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/S6TAaTYcK6
— Mystical Mayhem (@AsenaGray) 31 de agosto de 2016
In video on Facebook, members of the Lummi Nation speak on showing solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.
The journey reaches Winnipeg
As the totem pole headed north towards Canada, hundreds of people in Winnipeg spent the weekend creating art in support of the climate movement. Many of the designs for the banners and the flags were produced <PERSON>.
Come make movement art with us at the #350 #MEJC #TotemPoleJourney Art Build!! 415 Mulvey ST E. Winnipeg #Treaty1 Territory! 91