Post 14

Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Brainerd/Pine River MN
September 8, 2013

Just a reminder that our next meeting is on September 14, at a little before 11am, at the Library in Nisswa. We will be viewing the film, "Dirty Oil", about the tar sands development in Alberta, and effects on the environment and native people living in the region. It may not be well known that Canada is the United States' major supplier of oil, and that this exploitation is creating irreversible damage where it is unchecked by regulation or oversight.  Hope you can attend. The film is an hour and 12 minutes in length, so it may start a little earlier than 11. A pot luck lunch will follow. Because there will be little time for discussion, our next meeting, at Arbor Glen on September 28, will focus on questions raised by the film.

Melissa forwarded an email on the concerns of the northwest tribes of the Lummi Nation on the Pacific Coast, about the increase of rail traffic through their homelands, carrying coal to a proposed new export terminal, with potential harm through air pollution and accidental spills. They have carved a traditional totem Pole, which they will take along the intended route of the coal trains, to communicate their concerns and opposition to the project. For more information, look up totempolejourney, and find out more.

More Washington State news: the First Nation's Community of Bella Bella BC library burned down on July 12, with a loss of some 3000 books. Village Books has a list of 70 books on their website, that have been requested. You can go to bellabellalibrary.com for more information if you would like to help. Thanks to Beth Brownfield, Bellingham UUs for this news.

Part of this email included book recommendations for the history of the Northwest native people on the coming of the Europeans. No different than the stories here and just as heartbreaking...."The Bitter Waters of Medicine Creek", by Richard Kluger, Pulitzer Prize winner....and "Indians of the Pacific Northwest", by Vine Deloria Jr. Reprint from original 1977 edition.

Our new website is nearly up and running; it will be at mnnuuf.org. Check it out soon!

Submitted by Mary DeYoung