The U.S. Government Commitments in Support of the “Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative” and in Partnership with the Six Sovereigns lays a clear path forward for free-flowing river
Category: Indigenous Voices
Remembering Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut
This Sunday, Lummi Nation, Se' Si' Le', the House of Tears Carvers, and the Port of Friday Harbor will join together in ceremony to celebrate Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut's life.
2023 All Our Relations Snake River Campaign
Artwork credit: © A. Cyaltsa Finkbonner, 2023 Starting Sept 23rd, 2023, the intertribal nonprofit Se’Si’Le’ will join with coalition partners, including Native Organizers Alliance, Nimíipuu Protecting the Environment, and KHIMSTONIK begin an eight-day journey across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho (September 23 - October 1). The journey starts…
Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut May Return to the Salish Sea
On March 30, 2023, the Miami Seaquarium announced that it has agreed to partner with Philanthropist Jim Irsay and Friends of Lolita to bring Ska’liCh’elh-tenaut/Tokitae/Lolita back to the Salish Sea.
Salmon and Orcas Are Being Managed Toward Extinction—and So Is the Lummi Nation
Jay Julius, former chairman of Lummi Nation and president of Se'Si'Le wrote this piece for Earth Day in the Sierra Club magazine about salmon and orca extinction and the WA Catholic Bishops' Statement on Caring for Creation in the Lower Snake River Region. He writes,"We need to ask the question: According to what higher moral authority are these extinctions allowed? What is the price to be paid by the Salmon Nations, whose lifeway, cultural identity, and spirituality relies on our salmon relatives?"
Bishops issue statement for care of creation
by Mary Stamp from The Fig Tree The five Catholic bishops of Washington State developed and signed, "Caring for Creation and the Common Good in the Lower Snake River Region," this fall, reported Sr. Jessica Zimmerle, advocacy director at Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power and Light (WAIPL)—who supports this project with the intertribal nonprofit Se'Si'Le—and the Washington State Catholic Conference. Photo credit: Bureau of Land Management
State’s bishops urge holistic plan for Lower Snake River region
Photo credit : Stephen Brashear With the decline of salmon in the Lower Snake River region, the impact on Native people and the call of Pope Francis to care for creation, the state’s bishops have issued a statement urging a holistic plan for the region that “serves the common good.”
Make salmon restoration a policy and budget priority
This guest opinion piece about salmon restoration was written by Rep Debra Lekanoff. Photo Credit: Ingrid Taylar
Salmon advocates ask to include healthy ecosystems in Columbia River Treaty
This article on the advocacy to add healthy ecosystems as a core element of the Columbia River Treaty includes a couple quotations from our advocacy Director, Jessica Zimmerle! Photo Credit: Gord Mckenna
Columbia River’s salmon are at the core of ancient religion
This article on salmon's spiritual significance to Inland Northwest Native Nations was published by the AP on August 15, 2022 Photo credit: Sarah McDevitt
Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey: Challenge 2.0 Three Part Series
Paths to Understanding's Challenge 2.0 series recently featured conversations with Native leaders during the Snake River to Salish Sea Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey in a three part series.
Faith Leaders respond to Lower Snake River salmon draft report
Earth Ministry/WAIPL and local faith leaders Rabbi Seth Goldstein and The Rev. John Rosenberg were quoted in this press release about the release of Sen. Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee's report on replacing services provided by the four lower Snake River dams.
The Snake River to Salish Sea Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey
The faith community has been asked to show up in solidarity with Lummi tribal members, the House of Tears Carvers, intertribal nonprofit Se’Si’Le, and Native communities across the Pacific Northwest to support a Totem Pole Journey uplifting the Indigenous-led movement to remove the Lower Snake River dams and restore the health of salmon and orcas.
Tacoma LNG Appeal Denied
People of faith have been in a prayerful stance of solidarity supporting the Puyallup Tribe and co-litigants' appeal of PSE's immoral project. We are incredibly disappointed that the PCHB failed to make the right decision to uphold the Tribe’s request for further review of this dirty and dangerous fracked gas facility.
The Story of Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut
"Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut does not belong to any company. She belongs to her family, she belongs to the Salish Sea, she belongs to herself. It is our Xa xalh Xechnging (sacred obligation) to bring her home. Her spirit is strong, as is ours."