Bellingham Public Schools was one of many community organizations coming together on Monday evening Oct. 14 to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Lummi Nation. Organized as part of the work of the Community Consortium for Cultural Recognitions, the overarching goal of this event was to honor and preserve Indigenous heritage and to develop future cultural leaders.

This year’s theme “One heart, one mind” addresses the pervasive political division in our society at present and the need for healing and unity, with special focus on youth empowerment. The evening included tables of artisans and resources, song, drumming and dance provided by the Lummi Blackhawk Singers, sharing of thoughts, as well as a full salmon dinner courtesy of donations of more than 400 pounds of salmon.

BPS staff were onsite sharing information about the new Native American Family Committee that is being formed in the district. The ultimate goal of the NAFC will be to foster Native American student success and support relationship building between our schools and local tribes.

The keynote of the evening was provided by singer, actress and activist Ta’Kaiya Blaney, visiting from the Tla A’Min Nation near Powell River, British Columbia. She spoke about her ancestors’ fight for their sovereignty and Indigenous ways of being, sharing how their tribal river was dammed decimating the salmon runs their culture depended upon. She remembers from her earliest years spending time in courtrooms with her family fighting for their land rights and their culture.

Continuing her family’s fight for justice, she herself has become a youth ambassador for the environment, most recently fighting against the massive oil pipeline that travels across the Province of BC and for climate action in Canada and worldwide.

Alongside her call for decolonization and climate action, Ta’Kaiya also performed two powerful songs of hope. She shared that she sees hope in the inspiration of Indigenous youth who share their voice and vision which leads to cultural resilience and endurance.

With Ta’Kaiya sitting with them, four student leaders from the Lummi Nation School took part in a youth panel where they answered questions and shared personal stories of connection to their language and heritage. Thank you to Ambrose Washington, Kalen Tso, Robyn Jones and Graciela Kapuni-Lopez for their courageous speech.

The evening was emceed by Michael Vendiola (Swinomish) and Faith Iukes (Lummi/Tulalip Tribe.)  In addition, four witnesses were seated upfront throughout the event: Anthony Hillaire, chairman of the Lummi Nation, Anna Cook, food sovereignty advocate (Swinomish), Michaela Vendiola (Walker River Paiute/Swinomish) and Kim Lund, mayor of Bellingham.  As the program ended, each of the witnesses shared reflections inspired by what they saw, heard and felt during the evening.