JUUstice Washington

A Unitarian Universalist State Action Network

Bring Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut Home!

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Special Alert!

A request on behalf of Deb Cruz, JUUstice Washington’s President 

It’s long been since time . . .

Bring Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut Home!

A sacred request from
Squil-le-he-le (Raynell Morris) and
Tah-Mahs (Ellie Kinley)

“Our Lhaq’temish [Lummi] people have had a special relationship with our killer whales since time immemorial. We know them as qwe’lhol’mechen, which means “people under the water.”  Our stories tell of intermarriage and kinship between our Lhaq’temish people and a local qwe’lhol’mechen clan we know as Sk’aliCh’elh.

Fifty years ago, as our own children were being stolen and sent to boarding schools, one of the Sk’aliCh’elh children was stolen and sold to the Miami Seaquarium. We call this orca whale “Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut,” which means daughter of Sk’aliCh’elh. She is our Lhaq’temish daughter, too. She has been held in a small concrete tank and forced to perform for her food since 1970.

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People recognizes and uphold our rights to our culture, our spirituality, our families.  In order for our Lhaq’temish culture, spirituality, and family to be whole, we must bring Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut home. We are working with the world’s top scientists and experts on how to do this responsibly. We have a plan, but we do not yet have Miami Seaquarium’s agreement to release her into our care.

We are asking all individuals to sign our Petition, as put forth by our partners at the Earth Law Center.”

Hy’shqe,

Squil-le-he-le (Raynell Morris)
Tah-Mahs (Ellie Kinley)
Enrolled members of Lummi Nation

Please pass this onto family, friends, allies and partners.  Ask them to sign the petition.  It is believed that an overwhelming show of support, Miami Seaquarium’s parent companies might do the right thing and allow the Lhaq’temish people to bring their relation home to the Salish Sea, where they and her orca family await her.

For more information, check the links below:

Links: 

Thank you for your ongoing support of Lummi Nation!

HB 1412 Legal Financial Obligations

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In 2018, the legislature passed a bill reducing legal financial obligations (LFO) imposed on defendants convicted of crimes. At that time, LFO legislation was one of the priorities identified at the 2017 Justice Summit. LFO’s are court costs and other financial costs that recently incarcerated people are required to pay after release, and they can deter them from paying other costs such as housing or job searches. HB 1412 would reduce these costs even more because it:

  • Allows a court to refrain from imposing or waive full or partial restitution and accrued interest owed to any insurer or entity that is not an individual if the offender does not have the means to pay.
  • Allows a court to not impose interest on restitution after inquiring into and considering specified factors and input of the victim.
  • Revises standards for the waiver of accrued interest on restitution and non-restitution obligations.
  • Revises the time periods in which judgments for restitution and non restitution legal financial obligations may be enforced.
  • Establishes a revised standard of indigency for purposes of a number of provisions applicable to legal financial obligations.

Take Action: you can contact your representatives to support the bill by clicking on the bill number, HB 1412, which will take you to the bill information page on the legislative website. Then click on “Comment on this Bill,” fill in details to find your reps, and indicate that you support the bill. Below are some the comments made during hearings on February 3, 2021.

[Read more…]

Town Halls are Opportunities to Meet with Legislators

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At this point in the legislative session, it would be a good idea to meet with your legislators to discuss pending legislation. Most legislators are scheduling town halls online, and you can find out when at the Washington Conservation Voter website. Some will let you ask questions beforehand, which is a good opportunity to discuss our legislative priorities. Here are some of the priorities we discussed in the Justice Summit.

  • Environmental priorities: Fluorinated Gases, Clean Fuels, Growth Management Act, Building Electrification.
  • Racial Justice priorities: Insurance fairness act, Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) act.
  • Criminal Justice priorities: Legal Financial Obligations.

Support Moving the HEAL Act Out of the senate Chamber, 2-22-21

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Good news! SB 5141–The HEAL Act, made it out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee last Friday! We are thrilled, but with a close 13-12 vote, there is no room for error. We must be methodical in our next steps.

Now, our focus turns to passing the HEAL Act out of the Senate chamber. This means your Senator needs to hear from you today!

Take this online action to let them know that a healthy and safe environment for everyone is unconditional. Share this Facebook post to encourage others to do so!

With the tragedy in Texas serving as the lastest example, communities of color bear the brunt of the burden borne by environmental disasters. This can lead to medical ailments, the loss of housing and income, and create lasting hardships. It doesn’t have to be this way, and the HEAL Act directs state agency staff to establish meaningful relationships with underserved communities. This will improve the preparation, prevention, and communication work our state does to shield us from environmental threats. It is crucial because we want everyone to be safe when the next wildfire, flood, or heat wave strikes.

Think of the state of our environment as a sick patient and our environmental laws as the doctor meant to provide the cure. Without the HEAL Act, that doctor won’t be able to provide a full diagnosis, prescribe the right medicines, and provide a wellness plan that matches the patient’s needs and abilities. We need to HEAL our environment and not let it get any sicker.

We are engaged in a relentless communication effort to ensure the Senate prioritizes the HEAL Act. Stay tuned for additional actions soon!

Thank you so much,

Sameer Ranade
Civic Engagement and Policy Manager
Sameer@frontandcentered.org
(360) 218-4642

Return Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic and Carolyn Downs Community Clinic to the Black Community

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To: Seattle Children’s Board of Trustees and
Carolyn Down Community Health Clinic Board of Directors

We entrusted Seattle Children’s and Country Doctor with health and lives of Black and Brown families and you have failed them. You have neglected to uphold the very reasons that Odessa Brown and Carolyn Downs were created by Black activists and healthcare professionals—to provide quality and respectful healthcare to Black families. Now, our most trusted and respected managers and health care providers are leaving your employment due to racist environments. The loss of these healthcare leaders and providers is a devastating blow to Black families and the Black Community across King County. More

SIGN-ON to support transferring the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic and the Carolyn Downs Community Health Clinic back to the Black community. The Odessa Brown and Carolyn Downs Clinic have served Seattle’s Black community for years. After clear failures by clinic leadership to properly serve Black peoples, the Black community is calling for the return and transfer of both clinics back to Black community ownership in the spirit of agency and self-determination. Please sign-on in support of this effort here.

TAKE ACTION