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Jewell James

Lummi healing totem pole (up-close view, in honor of the victims of September 11th)

Jewell James (born February 2, 1953;[1] also known as Praying Wolf, Sit ki kadem, and Tse Sealth) is a Lummi Nation master carver of totem poles, author, and an environmental activist.[2][3] He is a descendant of Chief Seattle.[1]

Early life and education

Jewell James was born on February 2, 1953, on the Lummi Indian Reservation, west of Bellingham.[1] He is a descendant of Chief Seattle, the namesake of Seattle, Washington.[1] His brother Dale James studied wood carving prior to his own study.[4]

James attended the University of Washington in the early 1970s, studying political science.[4] While in college he studied carving under Marvin Oliver, and later apprenticed under him.[4]

Career

James is part of the Treaty Protection Task Force for the Lummi Nation.[3] He has also served as the Lummi leader of cultural diversity.[5] In 1994, James was a leader in the first pan-tribal meeting, which featured 300 tribes conversing with President Bill Clinton at the White House.[3] He is a leader of the House of Tears Carvers, a group of wood carvers from Lummi.[6][7]

James carves totems from ancient western red cedar trees, these totems are sacred objects in Lummi culture and help with healing and storytelling.[8][9] Prior to the cutting of these trees, a prayers ceremony happens.[10] The creation of a single totem can take up to 1,000 hours of labor, in order to carve and paint.[10] James presented two totem poles to the Pentagon in dedication to the lives lost there during September 11, 2001.[3] James is featured in the documentary film A Common Destiny: Walking in Both Worlds (1990; Mystic Fire Video).[11]

In July 2021, the House of Tears participated in the "Red Road to DC", where a single Lummi-carved 25-ft tall totem pole was created to inspire the United States government to protect Native American sacred sites.[6][12] The "Red Road to DC" totem traveled for two weeks to Washington D.C. making stop overs across the nation and inspiring local prayer ceremonies.[6][9]

Publications

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Kohl, MaryAnn F.; Solga, Kim (2019-07-02). Great American Artists for Kids: Hands-On Art Experiences in the Styles of Great American Masters. Chicago Review Press. p. 534. ISBN 978-1-64160-173-3.
  2. ^ "Lummi Nation carvers and allies to embark on national tour to D.C., give totem pole to President Biden". The Seattle Times. 2021-04-12. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  3. ^ a b c d Johansen, Bruce Elliott (2010). Native Americans Today: A Biographical Dictionary. ABC-CLIO. p. 141. ISBN 978-0-313-35554-7.
  4. ^ a b c Fentress, Kathryn (February 2015). "Unsung Heros, Jewell James and Art as Activism". Whatcom Watch Online. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  5. ^ Dullea, Georgia (1988-11-24). "In Giving Thanks, Some Remember the Indians". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  6. ^ a b c Duran, Doug (2021-06-04). "Photos: Totem pole's inspiring journey to D.C. includes Bay Area stops". The Mercury News. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  7. ^ Hillaire, Pauline R.; Fields, Gregory P. (2013-12-01). A Totem Pole History: The Work of Lummi Carver Joe Hillaire. U of Nebraska Press. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-8032-4097-1.
  8. ^ Hyde, David (2021-05-20). "From sacred lands to D.C., this Lummi totem pole carries a message with it". KUOW. NPR. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  9. ^ a b White, Taneasha (2021-07-12). "House of Tears Carvers Travel US With 25-foot, 5.000-Pound Totem". Inside Edition. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  10. ^ a b "About the Artist - Healing Totem". Native Voices. National Institutes of Health, Health & Human Services, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  11. ^ "A Common Destiny: Walking in Both Worlds, Mystic Fire Video". Internet Archive. 1990. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  12. ^ Kaur, Harmeet (July 11, 2021). "Indigenous people are trekking across the US with a 25-foot totem pole. Here's why". CNN. Retrieved 2022-02-28.