Pacific Luther University, Chris Knutzen Hall 7:00pm, April 22nd, 2013
Source: Pacific Lutheran University
As part of Earth Day celebrations at Pacific Luther University during the week of April 21st, a delegation of representatives of the Lummi Native American Nation is being invited by PLU student club G.R.E.A.N. (Grass Roots Environmental Action Now) to visit Pacific Luther University on Monday April 22nd, 2013 and speak to the university as well as the wider community about a fight they are in the midst of waging.
Directly to the North of the Lummi Indian reservation, which is located near Bellingham, Washington, lays a forested and rocky shoreline known as Cherry Point, or Xwe’ chi’ eXen to the Lummi. It is at this site near the Straits of Georgia in the Salish Sea that SSA Marine, an international shipping company, has proposed building what would be the nation’s largest coal export terminal. The forest would be convereted to mountains of coal and the waters off of Cherry Point would be converted to mooring space for up to three of the largest sized ships in the world.
The problem lies in the fact that the Lummi consider Cherry Point and the ajoining waters a sacred site. The Lummi point to burials grounds, ancient villages and fishing sites at Cherry Point as reasons for opposing the export terminal; the terminal would undermine the Lummi’s right to economic prosperity, cultural dignity and spiritual well-being. With SSA Marine spending tens-of-thousands of dollars a day on PR, the Lummi have been overwhelmed, unable to get their message to as many people as the corporations. Thus, this event seeks to give a forum to the Lummi, one where they can share their story, in their own words.
Please join us for an evening of listening, conversation, and solidarity.