On June 27, 2015 at a meeting of the UUA Pacific Northwest District held during GA in Portland, OR, delegates and Board members unanimously approved a resolution requesting the PNWD District to become signatories to the following document.  This was done upon the formal resolution passed by the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship and supported by many other regional UU congregations and groups.

Stay tuned as now that GA is over, some of us will be working to pulling together UUs throughout the region to work on making this Declaration a living document, not only within our UU denomination, but within the greater faith community as well.

A Poem for the Earth by Christopher Sims

In the afterglow of GA, especially the Saturday June 27th events with the two First Nations Workshops with Lummi and the Public Witness event on Climate Justice with Lummi, I'm sorting through my emails and rediscovered this jewel.  Christopher's name came up very early when conversations had just begun about inviting Lummi to GA along with Rev. Florence Caplow's and Rev. Kurt Kuhwald's. Christopher also stepped up at the last minute as a Witness during the workshop with Lummi Council member Julius and Lummi Elder Jewell James.

I thought it deserved a reprint . . .

The Earth has returned. She is living, breathing,
Realizing her breath was leaving. She
was needing us to remember her worth,
to recognize her worth all over again.
We used to be her friends. We used to help
her heal us. Help her, heal us. Help her heal us.
And then, she lost all trust and faith in us.

 She has returned mad, saddened. Mad, saddened.
However, she's empowered by this new commitment
We are signing on to. We are signing on to.
She wants you, me, and the rest of the human beings
Who populate this planet to never take her for granted
again. To never take her for granted again.
If she is dying, then who wins?
If she is dying, then who wins?
If Earth is dying, who really wins?

 She is providing for species.

 We live in a cycle that provides
for one another. That provides for
one another.
You and I, we are Earth's sisters
and brothers. We must take care of one
another. We must take care of one another.
Her lungs are smothered with toxins,
radioactive chemicals, and plastic
She cannot digest. She has cancerous
garbage in her breasts. We have polluted
Earth to death.
Unless, we take a step forward and reverse
Our damaging effects, our damaging effects.
Our damaging effects.
Our next steps should be radical movements
that peacefully changes things. That peacefully
changes things with civility.

We have the ability. We have the ability.

 Earth is alive. We can't let her die.

I want my Earth back.
I want my Earth back.
I want my Earth back.
I want to take each of our solutions
Then spin them into 180 degree revolutions
We all have effective contributions
We need to turn our passion into action,
execution.
Drum circles, live spoken word theater,
or even getting arrested. We are all a collective
that can't be defeated. That can't be defeated.
Immediate action is needed, is needed.
What about our children?
 What about future generations?

Who is going to save the lungs of the
eco system? Who is going to save
the lungs of the eco system?
Toxic water slaughters the frogs and
the fish. Imagine how much they wished
We didn't pollute their habitats. Clean
water, clean air, imagine that!
We need our Earth back, she returns.
We need our Earth back, it is her turn.

Christopher Sims is a spoken word poet, an environmental justice activist, and a member of the Board of Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM).

Totem Pole Journey 2015: Our Sacred Obligation Fundraising Kick-off at GA

This August, Master Carver Jewell James will be creating another Totem Pole and Journey.  This year's Totem Pole will eventually find it's home in Northern Cheyenne territory in Montana.  North Cheyenne land is part of the Powder River Basin where coal companies are working to expand existing and create new coal mining projects, which would be shipped out through Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point if the project is not stopped.

In order the Journey to happen, we need to raise $28,000.  This Journey belongs to all of us, not just Lummi House of Tears Carvers or Lummi Nation.  Go to the funding site, read on this Journey and previous Journeys and then donate.  Click here.

STOMMISH

69th Lummi Nation Stommish Water Festival “In Honor of our Heroes” www.LummiNationStommish.com (check for directions and updates to schedule of events)
June 12-14, 2015

Stommish is a multi-cultural contemporary Coast Salish gathering which includes fun and enjoyment for the whole family. Stomach features: Athletic events, traditional singing and dancing, a traditional Lummi-Style Salmon Barbecue, a Carnival and a Moonlight Concert series featuring Native Comedians, local musicians all throughout the weekend. Admission is Free and Stommish is open to the public. 

We sincerely hope you come join our people of this land and this sea--and "Experience the Spirit of Stommish." Go to the website for directions to the Stommish Grounds

Stommish open to the public begin ing on Friday . As of yet there is no listings on the events calendar past Thursday, nor for Slal Hal bone games. You'll have to check back later this week. There are however times and dates for the War Canoe Races on all days starting on Friday at 3:00 pm. Listing include: Singles, Doubles, Four Man, Six Man, and Eleven Man (in many age categories, and Men and Women). 

Click on the image below to go to the calendar site.

Sonny Sixkiller Buys the Redskins!

Support the Lummi Youth Academy and Lummi Nation by attending their newest production!

Lummi Nation Leads UUA GA Public Witness Event

Lummi/First Nations related workshops at GA