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
Columbia River’s salmon are at the core of ancient religion
Category: News
Faith communities ally for climate justice; to hold Sacred Earth Fair
"For the believer as well as the nonbeliever, the plagues of heat waves, droughts, wildfires, floods and storms — extreme weather events brought about by climate change — are bedeviling the environment and the lives of people all over the world. The crisis is forcing communities to question their relationships to nature and the world around them. As environmental consciousness grows, members of faith communities are among those seeking to engage with the reality of the climate crisis."
July 2022 Shmita Project NW Newsletter
Welcome to the second issue of our online newsletter! In this issue, we feature the self-assessment that took place in June, in which we invited our partners to reflect with us on “roses, buds, and thorns” in their Shmita Year 5782 activities. Our goal was to open up a conversation around projects our community has been working on this year, including what was successful, what felt difficult, and what ideas were proposed by not implemented
Earth Ministry/WAIPL’s Harvest Hoopla Tour
This summer and fall we’ll be traveling around Washington state to connect with the Earth Ministry/WAIPL community! Our Harvest Hoopla tour will center relationship building, celebration, and raising funds for our collective work of turning faith into action for environmental justice. Join us online or in-person in Tacoma, Olympia, Seattle, Yakima, Walla Walla, and Spokane.
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.
Gov. Inslee and Sen. Murray Release Lower Snake River Dams Report
Gov. Jay Inslee and Sen. Patty Murray have released a draft report studying the feasibility of replacing the services currently provided by the Lower Snake River dams. As people of faith, we bring a unique moral message to this conversation around the future of the Lower Snake River. We are centering the need of our neighbors, with justice for Native Nations at the forefront, by calling for solutions that will restore salmon facing extinction AND bring everyone forward together. The new draft report shows us the way forward.
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.
WA State Bans PFAS in More Types of Food Packaging
The Washington State Department of Ecology is banning toxic PFAS chemicals in more types of food packaging, thanks in part to input from the Earth Ministry/WAIPL community! The report bans PFAS in flat serviceware, open-top containers, closed containers, bags and sleeves, and bowls used for carry-out/take-out food starting in 2024.
Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey Recap
The focus of the Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey was to uplift the Indigenous-led movement to honor the spirit of a free-flowing Lower Snake River and restore the health of salmon and orca. Witnessing these events was a beautiful experience in which we heard Native speakers share passionately about their connection to the land, water, air, and of course the salmon.
How Bellingham’s faith communities unite in action
"The Multi-faith Network for Climate Justice is a group of Bellingham residents from faith and wisdom communities that gather monthly to discuss climate change and justice. Gross said the group fills participants’ unmet craving to explore the intersection between their faith and human-caused climate change, which is bringing more frequent, severe extreme weather and disrupting ecosystems around the world. 'People came because their own faiths weren’t talking about it, and they wanted to,' Gross said."
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.
Washington passes most climate-friendly building codes in the nation
Washington celebrated an exciting win this Earth Day when the Washington Building Codes Council passed groundbreaking building codes for new commercial and large multi-family buildings! Starting July 2023, new commercial and multi-family residential buildings will be required to be built with high-efficiency electric heat pumps for water and space heating.
Earth Ministry/WAIPL’s 2021 Recap
In 2021 Earth Ministry/WAIPL continued to journey toward our shared vision of a just and sustainable future in which people of all spiritual traditions fully embrace their faith’s call to environmental stewardship. Here’s a recap of all we accomplished together last year and an overview of our financial position
Introducing Earth Ministry/WAIPL’s partnership with Sphere Solar Energy
Earth Ministry/WAIPL is proud to partner with Sphere Solar Energy to help more congregations and households make the switch to clean solar energy!
Rabbi Seth Goldstein speaks at Stop Salmon Extinction Rally in Olympia
On Saturday, April 2, people gathered in Olympia to show their support for a comprehensive solution to breaching the Lower Snake River dams that will restore salmon populations and invest in communities along the river. We were honored to hear Rabbi Seth Goldstein of Temple Beth Hatfiloh speak about the sacred work that is salmon recovery and how it aligns with the Shmita year.