‘The last of what we have’: Bellingham Indigenous festival celebrates Earth Day
An Indigenous arts and cultural organization celebrated Earth Day in downtown Bellingham on Tuesday with a rally and festival that included speakers, music and activities.
Sponsored by Children of the Setting Sun Productions, the event highlighted Indigenous leadership and tribal-focused environmental action in the Northwest. Speakers included members of several tribes in Washington state and British Columbia.
Gene Harry of the Cowichan Tribe in British Columbia, asked those in attendance to protect their Mother Earth.
“The Earth is alive. The sky is alive. The trees are alive,” Harry said, describing every person’s connection to a universal spirit. “We all represent the candlelight. We have that torch inside of us.”
Bay Street was closed for the festivities between Holly and Champion streets, where a traditional Coast Salish canoe was on display and local organizations such as the Working Waterfront Coalition, Lummi Nation and Northwest Indian College had informational booths.
Ta’Kaiya Blaney, a Tla’amin First Nation singer, actor and environmental activist, sang the traditional Warrior Women Song and told the crowd that Indigenous peoples are finding that they have the political power to fight industrial practices that harm Native lands.
“There’s real knowledge that’s carried by our people, real leadership. And you can see examples of that in our communities. Right now, resource extraction industries are coming for the last of what we have,” Blaney said.
Children of the Setting Sun, which is known for its films that celebrate the environment, Indigenous activism, and culture, is moving into the former Mindport exhibit space at 210 W. Holly St. It will offer a gallery, digital media production studios, an artist-in-residence program and “maker spaces” for Indigenous artists.
This story was originally published April 23, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
