We are reaching out to invite you to participate in the upcoming Totem Pole Journey events at the University of Oregon from May 5th – 9th. We are also writing to ask for your assistance in promoting attendance and recruiting volunteers for these unique events.
This year, the Totem Pole Journey celebrates 20 years of Indigenous-led environmental and social activism grounded in arts and ceremonies. We are honored to host the kick-off of the 2022 Snake River to the Salish Sea — Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey on campus. The Totem Pole Journey, led by Lummi carvers and organizers, brings together ceremony, art, science, spirituality, ancestral knowledge, and cross-cultural collaboration in support of the movement to remove the Snake River dams and restore to health the Snake River salmon and the orcas that depend on them.
We have planned four signature events, including a roundtable discussion on the topic of the Science in Ceremony; lunchtime presentations around the theme of Arts, Ceremony, and Activism; and two evenings of speakers, song, prayer, and ceremony at the Whale People exhibit, which features a totem pole carved in the figure of an orca surrounded by an octagon-shaped outdoor film exhibit.
We would appreciate it if you could help to spread the word about these events by sharing the attached posters throughout your networks. We have also included a summary description that can be included in your listservs and message boards.
For up-to-date event information, please visit the Center for Environmental Futures website:
Additional events are being planned for the weekend. For updates, please sign up via this link or QR code. For media or sponsorship inquiries, or more information, please email tpjuo2022@gmail.com.
Thank you for your assistance and we hope to see you at the TPJ events in May!
Sincerely,
The Totem Pole Journey at UO Organizing Team Barbara Muraca, Marsha Weisiger, Taylor McHolm, Briana Meier, Kari Norgaard, Sara Loquist, Ryan Reed, Jesse Noone, Patience Collier, Kirby Brown
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TOTEM POLE JOURNEY AT UNIVERSITY OF OREGON OVERVIEW
Snake River to the Salish Sea — Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey at the University of Oregon
May 5th – 9th, 2022
The University of Oregon welcomes Se’Si’Le, House of Tears Carvers, and The Natural History Museum for a series of events May 5th through 8th.
The Totem Pole Journey, led by Lummi carvers and organizers, brings together ceremony, art, science, spirituality, ancestral knowledge, and cross-cultural collaboration in support of the movement to remove the Snake River dams and restore to health the Snake River salmon and the orcas that depend on them.
Whale People: Protectors of the Sea is an outdoor exhibition featuring a 3,000-pound orca pole, salmon carvings, and an award-winning IMAX-style film projection that tells the story of today’s environmental emergency through the figure of the orca.
Events at the University of Oregon
Science in Ceremony Colloquium
Thursday, May 5th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
EMU Gumwood Room
Sponsored by the Department of Philosophy
Art, Activism, and Ceremony
Lunchtime presentation – Boxed lunches provided
Friday, May 6th, 12:00 – 1:30 pm
EMU Ballroom
Whale People and Totem Pole Exhibit and IMAX-Style Film Screenings
Friday, May 6th and Saturday, May 7th, 7:30 – 9:30 pm
EMU Green
Additional events are being planned for the weekend. For updates, please sign up via this link or QR code. For media inquiries or more information, please email tpjuo2022@gmail.com.
Partners
Se’Si’Le, Lummi Nation House of Tears Carvers, The Natural History Museum, UO Student Sustainability Center, Center for Environmental Futures, UO Philosophy Department, UO Environmental Studies Program, UO Native American Student Union, UO Many Nations Longhouse
For current event details and an updated list of sponsors, please visit https://cef.uoregon.edu/totem-pole-journey/
