From Coast to the Pits: Totem Pole to Travel to Tar Sands

10,000 kilometre Totem Pole Journey Unites Opposition to Fossil Fuel Threats in the Salish Sea

by Wilderness Committee

Totem pole visits Victoria Saturday, August 30th

VICTORIA – Master carver Jewell Praying Wolf James and other members of the Lummi Nation will begin the Canadian portion of a newly-carved totem pole’s journey from South Dakota to its new home near the tar sands.

James and his group are raising awareness of fossil fuel threats to the Salish Sea by transporting the totem through communities impacted by tar sands and coal extraction and export in South Dakota, Montana, Washington, British Columbia, and Alberta. Their final destination is the Beaver Lake Cree First Nation in northern Alberta, where the totem pole will be raised to serve as a permanent symbol of united cross-border opposition to destructive fossil fuel projects.

“The leadership from First Nations on addressing the impacts of fossil fuels is inspiring--the opposite of what we’re getting from federal and provincial governments right now,” said Torrance Coste, Vancouver Island Campaigner for the Wilderness Committee. “It’s important that all of us who care about the Salish Sea and about climate change support initiatives like this Totem Pole Journey.”

The Lummi Nation is a Coast Salish people from Washington State. The journey, entitled Our Shared Responsibility, stops in communities on coal export routes and on routes of proposed tar sands pipelines, such as the controversial Kinder Morgan pipeline.

“First Nations and citizens in Canada and the US have a shared interest in stopping Kinder Morgan’s new pipeline and the 400 tankers a year it would bring through the Salish Sea,” said Caitlyn Vernon, Campaigns Director for Sierra Club BC. “Neither oil spills nor climate pollution respect international boundaries, so we all share the responsibility of protecting the Salish Sea from spills and other threats.”

The Victoria stop is being hosted by the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations and co-organized by Sierra Club BC and the Wilderness Committee.

The tour aims to bring a message about our shared responsibility to protect our water, lands and people, and invite all community members to be a part of the totem’s journey. Children and families are invited to interact with the totem and take pictures with it.What: Totem Pole Journey – Blessing Ceremony and Celebration

When: Saturday, August 30th, 2:00pm 

Where: Songhees Wellness Centre, 1100 Admirals Rd

Speakers, witnesses and performers include:

- Jewell Praying Wolf James, Lummi Nation
- Carleen Thomas, Tsleil-Waututh Nation Sacred Trust Initiative
- Local First Nations Leaders

A backgrounder on the Totem Pole Journey is available from the Wilderness Committee.

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For Immediate Release - August 28, 2014
For more information, contact:


Torrance Coste, Vancouver Island Campaigner, Wilderness Committee
Tim Pearson, Communications Director, Sierra Club BC
Jewell Praying Wolf James, Lummi Nation
Carleen Thomas, Tsleil-Waututh Sacred Trust Initiative