Jewell James

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]

Jewell James
Born (1953-02-02) February 2, 1953
Lummi Indian Reservation, Whatcom County, Washington, U.S.
NationalityLummi Nation,
United States
Other namesPraying Wolf,
Tse Sealth,
Sit ki kadem,
Jewell Praying Wolf James
EducationUniversity of Washington
Occupation(s)Wood carver, author, environmental activist
Lummi healing totem pole (up-close view, in honor of the victims of September 11th)

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
  • James, Jewell Praying Wolf; James, Darby Anne (1996). Chief Seattle and the Indian in the Moon: The Legend of Star Child and Mud Child. Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-0803716131.

See also

References
  1. 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. Johansen, Bruce Elliott (2010). Native Americans Today: A Biographical Dictionary. ABC-CLIO. p. 141. ISBN 978-0-313-35554-7.
  4. 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. 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. 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. "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.
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