Rally for Public Lands Featuring xaalh Way of the Masks

Update: New Location and Time.
We are honored to announce the Our Shared Lands rally will now host the kickoff event for the 2025 Way of the Masks campaign with Lummi master carver Jewell James. Come to Maritime Heritage Park to hear about this year's totem pole journey that brings attention to the Trump administration's threats to Indigenous lands, waters, forests, and lifeways in the Pacific Northwest. Learn about Way of the Masks here.

America’s public lands and the people who care for them are under threat as never before. Join us for a rally to protect these invaluable national resources and the workers who manage them. The rally will include a ceremonial blessing of the totem pole created by Jewell James and the House of Tears Carvers for this year's Way of the Masks campaign. 

Why should we care about our shared public lands?
They are crucial for:

• Biodiversity: Providing vital habitat for countless species, helping to maintain healthy ecosystems.
• Clean Air and Water: Helping to ensure that all of us have access to clean air and water.
• Climate Change Resilience: Providing places of increased resistance to the impacts of climate change through CO2 absorption and flood mitigation.
• Cultural heritage: Protecting Indigenous sacred sites and preserving our national heritage.
• Outdoor Access: Allowing all of us access to natural environments, for our physical, psychological, spiritual, and social well-being.
• Economic strength: Tourism and hospitality connected to public lands boost the economies of local communities and small businesses.
• Education and Research: Providing educational and research opportunities for scientists and students.

What is threatening America’s public lands?

• Development
• Plans to sell public lands to the highest bidder of give them to states
• Climate Change 

What is happening to public lands workers?

• Approximately 5,000 people have been fired. 
• Negative Impacts
  • Loss of public access
  • Threats to Indigenous cultural sites
  • Loss of maintenance of campgrounds, trails, educational resources, search and rescue services, and many more!
  • Adverse impacts on local economies
  • Hardship for workers and their families

Rally speakers include:
Jewell James, Lummi Nation master carver 
Michael Lilliquist, Bellingham City Council
Barry Buchanan, Whatcom County Council 
Susan Kane-Ronning, Mount Baker Group Sierra Club
Ben Avery, State Director, Washington State Sierra Club
Kaia Hayes, RE Sources
Brel Froebe and Daniel Harm, Center for Responsible Forestry 
Kevin Leja, Indivisible Bellingham 
With music from folk singer Dana Lyons