On Sunday the hubby and I went down to Missoula to attend the ceremony for the visit of a beautiful Totem Pole carved by master carver Jewell James of the Lummi Nation. It’s making a 5,000 mile journey from Bellingham, Washington to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, where it will be presented as a gift.
Along the way it is making stops to celebrate native culture and bring awareness about climate change. Prior to its visit in Missoula the Totem Pole had been in Sand Point, Idaho. It was leaving on Monday morning to head to Billings, Montana, and then it will make an appearance at the protest for the oil pipeline in North Dakota.
Each section of the Totem Pole is beautifully carved with different animal symbols ending with a bald eagle at the top. The Totem Pole is carved from cedar and is 22 feet tall.
The ceremony included Native and Christian elements and was very moving. You can see more photos from the Missoula stop and then Follow the Journey for the rest of the trip.
After the carver, Jewell James and his brothers and some others spoke we went outside for the Native blessing then came back inside for dinner. The ceremony was held at the Salvation Army ‘s new building and they served sliced bison and garden fresh beans, potatoes and homemade cole slaw. It was all very good. After dinner the hubby and another of his 350 Missoula (a climate change group) colleagues were given the opportunity to interview Mr. James. The video hasn’t been edited yet or I’d share that with you.
It was a really great way to spend the day. To learn more you can read the Dispatches from the Journey
