Squalicum Harbor Fishermen's Memorial
Dedication Ceremony
May 31, 1999
Transcribed by Jerri Williams
Native American Blessing Speaker: Vernon Lane Sr.
Tom Glenn: In recognition of the first peoples who fished the waters of this region long, long before westerners brought theirs nets and hooks, we now present a long time leader of the Lummi Nation, Mr. Vern Lane who will introduce the Lummi Offering in our dedication. Vernon Lane. [applause as Vernon Lane takes the podium]
Vernon Lane:
My dear friends, I don’t know…can
you hear me? Can you hear me?? Our Indian people are used to
just talking. Talking out loud. So at this time, I just…Just an honor to be
here. Amongst you people. I want to express my condolence to all the loved
ones who lost their loved ones at sea.
We all know the pain and suffering and death when we lose someone. We never expect anything to happen sometime in this modern day but things happen and we don’t know why sometimes. And it is so wonderful that you have a priest here to bless this monument. A reminder…a reminder of the biggest fisherman of all was our Lord.
I just come from a memorial service for all the veterans in Lummi. And I’d like to have the veterans here raise hand here. Raise your hand. [applause for the veterans who raised their hands]
Hold your hands up a minute. I want to say a prayer for you. To all the veterans that are here, to the veterans that have gone to the deep, we ask your blessings upon them and all those gathered here today. May their healing continue through them. We ask this in your blessed name. Amen.
I just want… I just had to try to figure at times like this what I was going to say. And how I was going to say it but my son, my son had some beautiful friends. He is here today. He lost here. He traveled to Alaska and met them in Alaska, in different places. And he was really close to them. And that made me feel good that I can come here and kind of talk in his behalf.
We know that Indian people have been fisherman all of their lives. We know how it is to suffer up and down anyways in life but we are thankful we are still here.
We’re thankful we can still share with each other our love and compassion for each other. Through bad and worse, we are all together. I know it is getting….we are always wondering if the fish are going to go away sometimes. And it looks sad sometimes. But the Lord always takes care. We have to remember that. He always takes care.
Sometimes we have to suffer a little in life. We are so use to the modern things today. But we gotta be ready. All of us ready. To face. To help each other in this life.
In my time here on this earth it’s been good. It’s been good. I have met a lot of people in my life. A lot of fisherman. Throughout all over the area. Seattle all over. It is good.
We have our differences but who doesn’t? Look at the world today. It is so sad. We are going to lose a lot of people here pretty quick. And I will always wonder some day hope that we won’t have to fight on our own soil.
What would it be? I hope we won’t get like over in Yugoslavia the different groups. Fighting each other. Killing each other. It’s sad.
And I am so thankful that the priest here had a blessing for each and every one of us here. We have so much to work for. All together. Look at the veterans. The veterans are struggling for their health care and their future.
They have to fight every day for that health care. And it is sad. The ones that give their life. Give their suffering in the service for our country. That we are free here today. That we can come here. Do these things we are doing that’s good and it is so wonderful.
This I leave with you. I have a group here. Their family has been with us throughout the country here. We travel all over different places and different locations and special occasions. I asked them to come here today. Their dad was a very good friend of mine. He was one of the spiritual ones in Lummi *** Tom. He was a good old man. And he left a song to use in good occasions as this and that is what we are going to present here to you today.
Unknown Lady:
I
would like to say thank you to all of you that are here today and for the
chance for our family to come and wish blessing on all of you. And for this
coming summer, I know a lot of people will be out fishing. Trying to make a
living for their families.
We too have lost a lot of family. Because of fishing and drowning. And we grieve. We think of them every fishing time. Every fishing year we think about them.
We lost an aunt and three uncles in one year, one summer. And we really feel bad about that yet, today. It has been a few years since they have been gone but we still remember them.
And I am sure as you do. And I would like to thank you for inviting our family to come and sing today.
Today is a good day for our family because we’re with you and you’re with us in one mind and one spirit. Thank you all.
Vernon lane: We are going to sing the song. And they are going to face the bay first. [drums and chanting as they slowly circle the memorial]
Vernon Lane:
Oh dear heavenly Father we just
thank you for this beautiful day. You are the great…greatness
of us all gathered here. Oh Great
Spirit we ask you to come down upon each and everyone here. Especially
for those that are working for you today, Lord.
We ask the
blessings upon all the veterans today. All the family here that are
mourning. May today bring strength and healing to them. We ask this in
your blessed name. Amen.
[more drums and chanting]
Tom Glenn: Thank you Vernon and thank you Tom Family. You have given us a real taste of pageantry. And it is a nice touch here now. It is my pleasure now to introduce to you the executive director of the Port of Bellingham, Mr. Jim Darling. Port Recognition