“We have not forgotten.” These are the words embodied in the Honoring Pole. This Lummi 9/11 Healing Pole stands as a testament to resilience. It is a symbol of healing after the tragic events.
Shortly after the 2001 terrorist attacks, Jewel Praying Wolf James of the Lummi Nation started a project. His intent was to help people heal. The project resulted in five poles. These represent healing, honoring, liberty, and freedom. The Healing Poles Project includes poles raised at the three crash sites.
In 2002, the Lummi Nation crafted a 13-foot high red cedar Healing Pole. It was presented to families of victims at the World Trade Center site. Now, it is permanently located at Sterling Forest, north of Manhattan. Carved from a 140-year-old cedar log it features a bald eagle. The eagle represents fathers who died at the World Trade Center. A bear in the center symbolizes mothers. At the bottom, a bear cub signifies healing through hope. It embodies the gifts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
A year later, the Lummi delivered an Honoring Pole to Shanksville. It marks the site where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed. Passengers fought back against terrorists on that flight. The pole depicts a bear holding a human being. Master carver Jewel James said the passengers had the strength of a bear. The Honoring Pole theme is remembering. It honors families of Flight 93 victims. It also honors past and present members of America’s armed forces.
The Liberty and Freedom Poles were received at the Pentagon in September 2004. The Liberty pole shows a female bear with a grandmother moon. The Freedom pole shows a male bear with a grandfather sun.
A 34-foot Sovereignty crossbar joins the latter two poles. Eagles are carved on each end. Two sets of seven feathers represent American Airlines Flight 77. This was the flight that crashed near the Pentagon on 9/11. The female eagle symbolizes peace. The male symbolizes war. The poles honor those who died on 9/11. They honor their families. They honor uniformed men and women who gave their lives. This includes police, firemen, and soldiers. All healing poles are painted red, black, white, and yellow. These colors represent the four races of man. They acknowledge that all races were victims of the attacks.
The poles stopped at nearly 40 American Indian Nations. Here they received prayers and blessings from various tribes. Many tribes assisted transporting the poles.
Jewel James drew from personal experiences. He drew from the spiritual history of grief among Native people. He created the poles with deep empathy. James said grief is familiar. Natives have learned to deal with grief. Healing comes with acceptance. His work helps heal pain from difficult memories and grief.
More than 80 people helped harvest, prepare, carve, and paint the healing poles. The poles help make the healing spirit public. Thousands have visited the poles. Many have found help in their grief. Jewel James was honored as an Ambassador for Peace in 2004.
These Lummi totem poles are a reminder. They are a call to safeguard what we need to pass down to future generations. They stand as monuments to a way of relating to the land. It is a way that predates colonialism.