Coast Salish Gathering

09/13/2020

09/08/2020

Hello all, CBC radio interviewed Bert Webber and George Harris about the naming of the Salish Sea 10 years ago, its significance and where we are today.

Here’s the links to the program. They were aired Aug 31 and Sept 1. I’m sharing on our social media platforms and will put links on our website.

George Harris was able to lift up us all and carry the naming of the Salish Sea to the end. After 17 yrs of Bert Weber working on this matter from a scientific perspective, he never gave up.

What happens when we all work together is success- We first must understand who we are and where we come from, acknowledge our ancestor's and our culture, and find those who love and respect our way of life. Once we build this common platform that we expand out thoughts to remember we are only part of this World and not owners of this World, then we can better grow together. Always remember our teachings, it is not about you, it is and will always be about us and them...them being the generations to come.

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-93-all-points-west/clip/15795672-the-salish-sea-10-years-later-stzuminus-elder

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-93-all-points-west/clip/15795444-the-salish-sea-10-years-later-its-decade

It's been ten years since B.C. officially recognized the Strait of Georgia, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound as the Salish Sea. And this week, All Points West is taking a closer look at what that has meant for conservation and management efforts. The Salish Sea is important to the Coast Sa...

09/06/2020

Homalco Chief Darren Blaney educated Washington Tribes and BC First Nation in the poisoning of the fish farms to the Salish Sea. In 2018 the Billy Frank Jr Symposium held by Salmon Defence passed a Call to Action to remove fish farms out of the Salish Sea. We can only do this together- thank you Ahousaht and Tla - o-qui!

05/21/2020

We have not posted in a very long time; and most recently this came across my web search of "Coast Salish Native American quotes"...we continue to do good together-

Nov. 16th, 2010 in Albuquerque, N.M., the Coast Salish Gathering was awarded high honors by the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development, which honors contributions in the governance of American Indian Nations.

Our co-speakers Chairman Brian Cladoosby, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, and Chief Gibby Jacob, Squamish Nation, along with Chief Ian Campbell, Squamish Nation, presented our story to the Harvard Board. Chief Jacob accepted the award of high honors on behalf of the Gathering.

Over 90 American Indian Tribes submitted their programs and at the end of the day there were 10 distinguished Tribes presenting to the Harvard Board of Governors.…Cladoosby, Jacob and Campbell highlighted the teachings of the Coast Salish people, the language, the culture, and the spirit that is contained within the watersheds of our territory from the white caps of the mountains to the white caps of the Salish Sea. The Coast Salish delegation ended their presentation with the traditional Coast Salish prayer song:
“Chet kwen mantumiwit. ”

We are grateful for the recognition and want to thank the host Tribe and Pueblo, along with Harvard for hosting us in the beautiful territory of New Mexico. This wenaxws, honor, represents how chaw chaw stewy, together we can make a difference. It is not the individual effort that moves us forward but the work of each of us together that will create change for the Coast Salish and the Salish Sea.

The Coast Salish Gathering brings our people together to represent who we are as a people and how we are Coast Salish in our hearts and minds.

Chairman Cladoosby quotes, “We must look forward with the support of our people to continue this good work, this governance structure that will create new policy based on the teachings of our past, the reality of our present, and the hope we have for our children’s future. This is what will bring the 10,000 years of knowing that is the teachings of our people and the scientific community, government, and policy together as one.”

“There is no victory until our children are safe”, said Chief Tom Sampson, Chemainus First Nation. “The victory will happen when we come together to wenaxws and protect our future through language, culture, spirit, land and water. This honor has called back our ancestors and now that we have something back we must not give up, we must embrace each other with the courage of our ancestors, This is how we move forward."

03/29/2020

Lummi Nation Darrell Hillaire and Ray Harris bring their love and strength to Coast Salish and the World- Coming Together

08/10/2019

We celebrated a historical day for the Coast Salish Gathering as we announce the formal organization of the Gathering Foundation.

The Foundation will over see the operational management and be responsible for the fund raising for the Gathering. The Coast Salish Gathering Steering Committee will manage the Foundation and ensure we have a long lasting mechanism to support the Gathering’s future for us all!

Congratulations to the Foundation’s Executive Board, Co Chairs, Swinomish Chairman Brian Cladoosby, First Nation Summit Co Chair and Chemainus First Nation Ray Harris, Secretary-Tulalip Vice Chair Glen Gobin and Treasure- Suquamish Treasure Robin Sigo.

08/04/2019

One Salish Sea

06/19/2019

Coast Salish Gathering has been strong in sharing the collaboration of working with those WA Tribes and BC First Nations on the opposition of the Transboundary Pipeline. Since 2014 there have been many of the First Nations and WA Tribes who have come together to testify in the NEB Hearings on the impact of the Transboundary pipeline on their inherit and treaty rights. We share the continued message that is its not a matter of if there is a oil spill; but when this will happen on her beloved Salish Sea. Below are links to the WA Tribes releasing their statements on the decision. We will continue to share more information as it comes in through the news.

1. Earth Justice represents Our Four Tribes Swinomish, Lummi, Suquamish and Tulalip

Here is the shared Tribal Statement Links:

It's also live on Earth Justice website: https://earthjustice.org/news/press/2019/u-s-tribes-decry-trans-mountain-pipeline-expansion-approval

And we've posted to Twitter: https://twitter.com/Earthjustice/status/1141089051044405249

And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Earthjustice/posts/10161864649170301

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/controversial-trans-mountain-pipeline-expansion-approved-shovels-in-ground-soon-canada-pm-says/

1a. What is the Transboundary Pipeline (Kinder Morgan)

What is the Trans Mountain project?
The project twins the existing 1,150 km (715 mile) Trans Mountain pipeline and would triple its capacity from 300,000 barrels per day to 890,000 per day.
It would carry crude oil from Edmonton, Alberta to Burnaby, British Columbia (BC) and increase oil tanker traffic on the Pacific coast from five to up to 34 tankers a month.



2. Canada Approves Transboundary Pipeline
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-us-canada-48641293
Trudeau’s Statement on Approval of Transboundary Pipeline

"It is in Canada's national interest to protect our environment and invest in tomorrow, while making sure people can feed their families today," he said.

3. Governor Inslee’s Statement On Canada Approving the Transboundary Pipeline

Gov. Jay Inslee released a statement today following the Canadian government’s announced approval of the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion.
"The Canadian government’s decision today to approve the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion is alarming and deeply disappointing. The costs to our environment and communities are simply too high. This pipeline, if built, will impose significant negative impacts on our coastal communities, increase the risk of oil spills in our shared waters and double down on carbon-intensive fossil fuels at a time when world leaders need to double down on clean energy. It would unwind our urgent efforts to reduce toxics in our environment, protect our orcas and improve oil-transport safety. If the pipeline is expanded, we may see a call for additional investments to bring more fossil fuels into Washington state.
"But this expansion is not inevitable. I stand with Premier Horgan in wanting to defend the coast. Canada has led so many important climate initiatives over the past several years, and it’s time for them to do the same now. We will continue to pursue every option possible to protect our waters and our communities."

Today, the Canadian government formally approved the construction of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion. This is the latest move since February, when a Canadian federal agency recommended approval of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion, a move strongly condemned by Coast Salish Tribes and conse...

05/26/2019

A few months ago Coast Salish Gathering once again all came together for Transboundary Pipeline Hearing in Victoria -

Tribal leaders and members from Washington state crossed the Salish Sea to oppose a pipeline that could bring more oil tankers to waters on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border.