![\"Holly](\"http:\/\/earthministry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Holly-Hallman.jpg\")
<\/a>Rev. Holly Hallman, Presbyterian teaching elder in the Seattle area, last week delivered a letter from PC(USA) to the Army Corps of Engineers on behalf of the Lummi Nation and Northwest Native Tribes in a public ceremony with tribal leaders and about 400 people in attendance.\u00a0
Last Thursday and Friday, several tribes from the Northwest held a long-planned\u00a0joint press conference, ceremony and conference<\/a>\u00a0establishing a strong alliance against fossil fuel exports.\u00a0 At the Thursday night Ceremony at Golden Gardens park in\u00a0 Seattle, with the sun setting behind the Olympic Mountains and overlooking Puget Sound,\u00a0 tribal chairs spoke about the sacredness of their land and the importance of protecting the earth for future generations.\u00a0 They signed a declaration joining together in opposition to fossil fuel exploitation of their land and violation of their fishing rights.\u00a0 After hearing from many tribal leaders and a Chilean activist on behalf of the indigenous tribes there, Rev. Holly Hallman took the microphone and delivered a letter from PC(USA) to the attending Tribal representatives. She spoke briefly and movingly about\u00a0an overture on coal trains\u00a0<\/a>that passed the last PC(USA) General Assembly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Holly was the only faith speaker and stood for a promise kept by faith leaders to the Native people of our region.\u00a0 It was a perfect moment representing what denominations can do that will have a real impact on the outcome of these critical environmental and indigenous rights issues.\u00a0 The Army Corps of Engineers is THE decision-maker in the process and a strong faith statement adds public pressure to the clearly-established but long-ignored power of the tribes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
During a recent ceremony, faith leader Rev. Holly Hallman reaffirmed the\u00a0promise of support and partnership between\u00a0faith leaders and tribal leaders to\u00a0protect tribal lands and fishing rights threatened by the planned export of coal from Washington to Asia.\u00a0 Eco-Journey, blog of… <\/p>\n