A Call to Action to Support the Lummi Nation

Note:  The following call to action comes from Deb Cruz, a member of a faith-based community that has long supported protection of the Lummi Nation's cultural, historical, and natural resources, all of which would be profoundly and irreparably impacted if the Gateway Pacific Terminal were built to ship 54 million metric tons of coal per annum at Cherry Point. This request originated with the Lummi Sovereignty and Treaty Protection Office. 

As many of you may be well aware, on January 5, 2015, a letter was issued from Lummi Nation Indian Business Council to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.  This letter specifically requested that the USACE “take immediate action and deny the permit application” of SSA Marine to build the Gateway Pacific Terminal.  The official Lummi letter is attached [see below].

It is now very important to show our support of Lummi Nation to protect their sacred lands, waters and treaty rights.  Many of you may have already received requests from various organizations asking that you write various government officials showing your support for Lummi’s request and this is no different.  If you haven’t done so already, we are asking that you write to the following key people listed below.

These letters of support do not have to be elaborate or detailed.  Just a few sentences asking these people to support Lummi Nation will be more than adequate and more than appreciated.  It also does not matter if you are not local to Lummi.  We want to encourage as many people as we can, wherever they are, to join us in showing support for Lummi's request.

For those of you affiliated with a faith-based community, we also ask that you state you are a member of whatever faith-based community you are a part of and what your role/position, if any, is in that community.  We are not asking for letters or endorsements from full congregations or communities, but just as individuals who have found a spiritual concern in honoring Lummi’s right to exist and protect what is sacred to them.

Please feel free to pass this on to as many people as you are able to.

Please include a copy of any correspondence to Dr. Kurt Russo below so Lummi can see your support.

Dr. Kurt Russo
Lummi Sovereignty and Treaty Protection Office
2665 Kwina Road
Bellingham, WA 98226
email:  KurtR@lummi-nsn.gov

Governor Jay Inslee
Office of the Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002

Senator Pattty Murray
154 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2621

Senator Maria Cantwell
Office of U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell
311 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Representative Suzan DelBene
318 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Chairperson
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
838 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Your attention and support in this matter are greatly appreciated!!

Deb Cruz