JUUstice Washington

A Unitarian Universalist State Action Network

Standing in Solidarity with Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut

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Please join us in standing in solidarity for Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut at a virtual event on September 24th, the 50th anniversary of her captivity at Miami Seaquarium.

From Lummi leaders Squil-le-he-le (Raynell Zuni) and Tah-Mahs (Ellie Kinley):

We are traveling to Miami and holding ceremony as part of our Xa xalh Xechnging (sacred obligation) to care for our relation and work to bring her home. Estitem-sen (we are trying our best)!

This hour-long Zoom and Facebook LiveStream event will be held from 2-3pm ET / 11am-12pm PT,  and will feature:

• Seminole and Miccosukee opening prayer
• Water Ceremony for Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut
• a short film about Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut’s history
• Statement of Solidarity from International Indigenous Leaders
• words from our partners at Earth Law Center, Northwest Indian College, Florida International University’s Global Indigenous Forum, and Whale Sanctuary Project
• Ways for the public to engage with and support the work
• the Blackhawk Singers of Lummi Nation

Event will also be viewable on the Facebook newsfeed on the SacredSea.org homepage.

Bringing Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut home will help heal her family and ours. Bringing her home will help heal the Salish Sea. Bringing her home be a step in upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples throughout the world who are working to protect their homes, their relations, and their ancestral ways.

Hy’shqe (thank you)!

Read more here.

“The Condor and the Eagle” film screening and fundraiser for Tokitae Fund of Lummi Nation’s Lhaqtemish Foundation

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Join the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth, the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship and many other friends and allies as we come together virtually as people of faith and conscience to celebrate the Fall Equinox, watch this award-winning documentary, hear from the filmmakers & protagonists, and unite the faith community and allies in the movement for Indigenous rights and climate justice.
Even if you’ve already seen the film, join us again as we listen to the voices of Lummi Nation and Ponca Nations.
This day before the 50th Anniversary of Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut’s arrival at Miami Seaquarium.  Doug and Jewell James will speak to the heart in a significant way about bringing  Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut (Tokitae) home.  This is not just about returning a whale to the wild.  It’s about recognizing and honoring Lummi “Schlangen” (life ways).  It’s about Truth and Reconciliation.  It’s about restoring and protecting the Salish Sea and all the lives that depend on Her.
 
And then, it’s about our future on this planet.
September 22nd • 6:30 pm
“Four Indigenous leaders embark on an extraordinary trans-continental adventure from the Canadian Boreal forests to deep into the heart of the Amazonian jungle to unite the peoples of North and South America and deepen the meaning of “Climate Justice”. The Condor & The Eagle documentary offers a glimpse into a developing spiritual renaissance as the film four protagonists learn from each other’s long legacy of resistance to colonialism and its extractive economy.”

Sacred duty: Bring Sk’aliCh’elh-tenau home

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Research by leading NAGPRA experts agree there is a strong case to be made that Sk’aliCh’elh-tenau qualifies for return under NAGPRA
“Just to give a little background, under NAGPRA it requires the return of some Native American cultural items to the people that they came from. And Sk’aliCh’elh-tenau is sacred to the Lummi and has vast cultural importance to them. And while it’s a little bit nontraditional to apply NAGPRA to southern resident Orca it falls within the letter of the law pretty clearly.”

“The NAGPRA experts that we’ve spoken to across the country think we have a high likelihood of success here.”

“In this case, we have on our side scientists, lawyers, biologists, and experts from all walks of life who are all rallying behind the safe return of Sk’aliCh’elh-tenau to her home. I think with that combined intelligence and research and science if there’s a good chance to reintroduce her, and I think there is, that we’ll be successful and I’m hopeful that that’s the outcome of this case.”

Read more here.

Earth Law Center joins effort to free Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut (Tokitae/Lolita) Press Conference

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Earth Law Center joins effort to free Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut (Tokitae/Lolita) Press Conference

WHAT: A virtual press conference at which individual Lummi tribal members Tah-Mahs (Ellie Kinley) and Squil-le-he-le (Raynell Morris) will announce the next step of their work to bring Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut (Tokitae/Lolita) home from the Miami Seaquarium to the Salish Sea: partnership with Earth Law Center.

The event will include a ceremonial invocation, remarks from Tah-Mahs, Squil-le-he-le and their traditional witnesses, from the Earth Law Center, and questions from the press.

WHEN: 11:00 am-12:00pm. Wednesday, June 10, 2020

WHERE: The public is invited to watch the  livestream at the SacredSea.org Facebook page or on the home page of SacredSea.org.

WHY: Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut (Tokitae/Lolita) was stolen from her family in the Salish Sea in 1970 and has been held captive at Miami Seaquarium ever since.  As part of their Xa xalh Xechnging (sacred obligation) to Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut, Tah-Mahs and Squil-le-he-le   announced last summer their intent to sue Miami Seaquarium for her release and return.

In Lummi language, the word for “orca” is qwe’lhol’mechen, which means “our relations under the water.”  Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut is kin not only to her immediate L-pod family, but also to Lummi people. Bringing her home will help heal her pod, her larger Lummi family, and the Salish Sea. Tah-Mahs and Squil-le-he-le will now be legally represented by Earth Law Center in this work.

SPEAKERS:

  • Opening and closing  prayer songs by Lawrence Solomon, Chairman of Lummi Nation
  • Squil-le-he-le (Raynell Morris) of Lummi Nation tribal member
  • Tah-Mahs (Ellie Kinley), Lummi Nation tribal member
  • Michelle Bender, Ocean Rights Manager, Earth Law Center
  • Witness Jay Julius, former Chairman of Lummi Nation
  • Witness Sit Ki Kadem, Lummi Nation
  • Witness Alan Salazar, Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians

Earth Law Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental law organization working around the world to transform the law to recognize, honor and protect nature’s inherent rights to exist, thrive and evolve. They began a campaign in 2018 to recognize the inherent rights of the Southern Resident Orcas.

for more information on Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut, go to www.sacredsea.org