Led by Se’Si’Le and the House of Tears Carvers of the Lummi Nation, and cosponsored by SOS and other NGOs, Xaalh: The Way of the Masks Tour honors ancestral Indigenous knowledge that all things are related to xaalh: a sacred trust with the balance of life that connects forests, salmon, water, and people. The Tour will bring attention to the emergent and urgent threats of the Trump Administration to Indigenous lands, waters, forests, and lifeways in the Pacific Northwest.

Our magnificent ancient forests are at great risk, as are the endangered wild salmon that both depend on Northwest forests for habitat and bring marine nutrients back to these same forests when they spawn. Join us in a spiritual and grassroots call to protect the last and best places and the sacred systems they uphold, before they are lost forever.

From September 6-20, with stops around the Northwest, we'll hear from Tribal and local leaders about the interrelatedness of Treaty rights and inherent rights, Indigenous ways of knowing nature and environmental justice, healthy rivers and salmon habitat, spiritual and ecological balance, and ancient forests and climate resilience.

Ten cedar masks that exemplify the spiritual meaning of xaalh will be gifted to each of the event hosts. At the end of the journey, a totem pole will be gifted by the House of Tears Carvers to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe for their successful effort to honor, protect, and restore the Elwha River and for working to prevent the timber sales and logging projects that are threatening the newly free-flowing river.

We hope to see you at one of these Way of the Masks events:

Tour Dates 2025

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