Ralph and Zach are biking up to the Lummi Nation, but some of you may be wondering what exactly the Lummi Nation is. Here is a little information I found from a booklet my dad received-
The Lummi Nation is an Indian reservation that is populated by the Lhaq'temish, "the Lummi People". They are the original inhabitants of Washington's northernmost coast and southern British Columbia. For thousands of years, they worked, struggled, and celebrated life on the shores and waters of Puget Sound. Their culture was built on the abundant gifts of the sea and forest - food from fishing, hunting, and plant gathering - yo'mech; the spring salmon; soxuve, butter clams; kwawach, the elk; skao's, wild potatoes; and sqw'elengexm, blackberries. the towering red cedar tree, xe'py, gave them life, shelter, clothing, transportation, and spiritual well-being. They lived in villages throughout their territory - the San Juan archipelago and the mainland, including the present Lummi Reservation near Bellingham, Washington. The sea was their highway, the canoe their means of travel, sustenance, and contact between villages. Their Elders believe that through the union of canoe-pulling, they achieve perfect harmony and balance. The idea of harmony and unison is the basis of Lummi spiritual and community existence. It is called schelangen, the Lummi way of life.
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