Red Road to D.C. totem pole journeys through Fort Hall
Side view of the right side of the totem pole.
By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — The House of Tears Carvers are celebrating their 20th anniversary of the totem pole journey by traveling the Red Road to D.C. and made their 96th stop in Fort Hall on Thursday, July 1.
Freddie Lane, a member of the Lummi Tribe, said they are there to bring awareness to sacred sites, sacred waters, sacred salmon.
“We’re standing up for the rights of nature,” he said adding if the future generations don’t stand up then there will be no future.
He thanked everyone for coming and said they appreciated being in the beautiful territory.
With the wind slightly blowing Lane said he could feel the breeze from the ancestors has followed them since April 20 when they started.
Jewell James said they had a group of about 14 people who worked on the totem pole. They put poles up at old soldiers’ homes, boarding schools, public schools, cancer centers, explosion sites, to name a few. They’ve worked with tribes to bring notice of important issues in Indian country like voting, taxation, climate change and to protect the environment.
Freddie Lane and FHBC Chairman Devon Boyer.
James said no one really had a vision for this particular totem pole in the beginning but he’s seen things in dreams and visions to help with the design.
He said this was the seventh totem pole that has traveled to Washington D.C., which they are dedicating to the Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, in the hopes she hears the voices of Indian country on issues like sacred sites and places need protected, the water needs to be protected and so on.
James said, “It’s up to us to defend ourselves in the battle against the people around us that are destroying sacred sites and sacred places.”
Lane elaborated a little more on the detailing of the totem. He said the two-chinook salmon represent those who are going extinct, those that don’t have a voice and that we need to keep fighting for. The diving eagle represents the salmon they are speaking up for. There is also a sea wolf and a sea bear on the sides. The middle represents the relatives to the north with the copper. The grandmother on the bottom is taking care of the granddaughter and the mother, who is on the other side, her hand is painted red for Missing Murdered Indigenous Women, around her are tears representing the seven generations of trauma.
Community members touch and offer blessings to the totem.
He reminded the young people their way of life is at jeopardy and it was important to get out and vote. He said it’s time for the young people to speak up.
“You young people, it’s time for you to warrior up. It’s time for you to remember the blood that runs through your veins is your ancestors and they fought and fought and fought. What we’re doing is trying to instill that voice in you. If you’re afraid you should be afraid, you should know what you’re up against, because we’re up against the impossible. We’re up against corporations – those that are in the pockets of the politicians,” he said.
He invited everyone who’s seen the totem to come to D.C. and present it in a good way, as well as to let the world know Native people are done being the silent child locked in the attic, done being the silent voice you only hear.
The Red Road to D.C. Totem Pole Journey to Protect Sacred Sites began in April and will end on August 4 at the nation’s capitol.
So far, they’re near completion of their Northwest Totem Tour. Their goal is to visit different communities in Indian Country and meet with various officials, such as mayors, city council members and governors.
Carver Jewell James sings an honor song.
James sang a prayer song for the totem pole and the people. He drummed and sang in each of the four directions as the community joined in.
The public was invited to look at the totem pole, touch it and pray to it if they wanted to.
Lane gifted Fort Hall Business Council Chairman Devon Boyer a blanket and also presented his friend Paula Jimmie with a scarf.
Chairman Boyer said their journey represents a lot of things, it represents a lot of history and a lot of tribes.
“And a lot of things that happened not only in the past, but a lot of things that are going to be in our future,” he said.
Dan Stone, Policy Analyst for the Shoshone-Bannock Fish & Wildlife Program said we’re a salmon people and it’s apparent the fish are not coming back as strong as they used to.
“We all know from our teachings that we’re connected to the ocean. We’re connected to all these things through this river. What happens here is not just about what happens in Idaho, it affects the orca in the ocean. It affects everything on the river, affects the sea lions, all the fish, all the rivers, all the life, trees, everything that grows relies on this fish. It’s going to be up to us – it’s going to be us to stand up for that fish because it can’t speak for itself,” he said.
Council member Lee Juan Tyler leads an honor song for the totem.
Stone said he hoped people take this journey into their hearts and remember today.
Stone said the fish are resilient, like the people, and if you give it half a chance it will survive, if you give it more than half a chance it will thrive.
“So remember today and remember this way. We’ll know when it comes because that salmon survives and it comes back and it will bring us back too. That healing rides with this pole, this sacred pole,” said Stone.
Miss Shoshone-Bannock Ontaria Arrow White said she felt good feelings greeting the totem pole She had a good time being present and listening.
