Submitted by Stephanie Buffum

A totem pole carved at the Lummi Nation from a 400-year-old red cedar will begin a cross-country journey next month, evoking an urgent call to protect sacred lands and waters of Indigenous people. The journey, called the Red Road to DC, will culminate in early June in Washington, D.C.

Lummi tribal member Jewell Praying Wolf James with The House of Tears Carvers will kick-off The Red Road to DC Totem Pole Journey to Protect Sacred Sites with two stop-overs in their traditional territory of the San Juan Islands:

• San Juan Island, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Monday, May 10, Mitchell Bay Lhaq’temish Village (English Camp, San Juan Island National Historical Park); and

• Orcas Island, 1-3 p.m., Tuesday, May 11 Madrona Point Lhaq’temish Village

After traveling across traditional lands throughout the U.S., the totem pole will be gifted to the Biden administration in June and displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

All gatherings will abide by covid-19 safety measures of mask-wearing, socially distancing, and hand sanitizing. The events will be on Facebook Live.

For more information contact: NW Road Manager, Sul ka dub Freddie Lane 360-391-7560; San Juan Islands SJI’s Coordinator, Stephanie Buffum 360-472-0404; or National Director, Dr. Kurt Russo 360-961-4554. Donations may be made at the event or to the Lhaq’temish Foundation.