The twelfth installment of a blog series of 13 sharing art, articles, and abstract ideas that spark a contagious conversation.
Lummi Nation’s first physician from its own community, Dr. Dakotah Lane knows exactly how important culture is when handling crises.
Dr. Lane came back to Lummi Nation in 2016 to practice family medicine after getting his medical degree from Weill Cornell Medicine at Cornell University in New York. It was a switch for him after starting out as an electrical engineer with a degree from the University of Washington (UW) in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE).
He felt called to serve his people.
Protection is what Lummi has been all about as the tribe has taken strong measures that began in February – and they’ve gone further than many governments to protect their people.
“At first in January we were just watching it, and didn’t expect anything,” Lane said. “There was a lot of doubt when we first started, there was a lot of disbelief, ‘Are we overblowing this, are we crying wolf?’ But in February, it became clear to us we need to start acting right now.” The Lummi Nation also has taken steps to bring medical care and support to their community, right to their homes. The tribe purchased iPads and Wi-Fi hot spots, dropped off at patients’ doorsteps for in-home, door-to-door telemedicine. The tribe also has drive-thru testing for anyone who meets the criteria for it. The tribe even set up a medical tent outside, for people who need hands-on examination.
All dental appointments have been canceled, and the dental staff, other than a skeleton crew for emergencies, has been repurposed to help with the virus response, including testing.
The tribe, before the state or federal authorities, called for extreme social distancing. To make sure elders and others have what they need, food is being distributed door to door, and drive-ups to distribution points are available for people still able to leave their homes.
We reached out to Dr. Lane in order to get some more information about Lummi Nation and its fight against crises. His responses are below:
What is the Lummi Nations relationship with health? What are the biggest health concerns facing the Lummi Nation?
The health of the community is very important and our clinic seeks to view the ‘whole’ person which includes the medical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. Many of our chronic health conditions are the result of poverty which includes obesity, type 2 DM, and substance abuse. Like the rest of the USA, we face a high level of heroin overdose, narcotic abuse, and alcohol abuse.
Our health conditions closely related to multiple socio-economic and environmental factors. Many of our Lummi community members no longer have access to our traditional foods. At family gatherings, my grandparents would always say “when the tide is out, the plate is set”. Much of these shellfisheries continue to have red tide due to runoff from the farms which limit are ability to gather shellfish.
How does the Lummi Nation respond to climate change? What facets of climate change have the most impact on the Lummi Nation?
Climate change has had a huge impact on our way of life. Particularly our ability to traditionally hunt and fish – when I was growing up, I spent my childhood fishing on the banks of Lummi Reservation and throughout the Puget Sound. Today there is limited salmon fishing with decrease fisheries.
How often do you hear issues of climate change discussed within the Lummi Nation? Is it an issue addressed head on, or avoided?
All the time. While I don’t speak for the Lummi Indian Business Council, I do know they are taking climate change seriously. I frequently hear our council advocate for thinking how our decisions today will affect our children tomorrow including designing buildings that are ecofriendly, investing in the education of our children, and fighting for the protection of natural resources (i.e. speaking out against aquafarming).
Do you see any parallels between the COVID-19 pandemic and the looming climate change crisis?
I can make some general observations – the global reliance of fossil fuels impacts the tribes’ ability to depend on our traditional way of life. We seek to protect it by passing on our traditional values, strengthening our culture, and protecting our waterways.
What steps has the Lummi Nation taken to combat climate change? What steps have been taken to combat COVID-19? When were those actions taken?
The Lummi Health Clinic is working to improve the health of the entire community. We have put in place to multiple protective measures for the community including monitoring, testing, and quarantine community members. All of these steps and processes were put in place in early late January (our first order for PPE was Jan 28th).
With regard to climate change, Tribal people have always fought for improved environmental quality – from the early days when they told the Federal government that dams will kill off our salmon (and harm much of our ecosystem) to the present day farmed fish that pollute our waterways.
Is there anything that you wish more communities would do the same as the Lummi nation in addressing the crisis?
Certainly, I wish political leadership would take seriously the necessary changes to protect our waters including the water ways. Salmon is our way of life and the salmon fisheries has strained the entire ecosystem. It starts with protecting the rivers by having thoughtful development that protects the rivers that salmon spawn on for reproduction.
I am grateful to have the opportunity to interview Dr. Lane and share the Lummi culture and their valiant efforts to fight COVID-19 and the climate crisis. This week Lummi Nation’s hereditary chief Bill Tsi’li’xw James passed away and video coverage of his teachings and his service can be viewed here, thanks to Children of the Setting Sun Productions. Taking time to learn from indigenous cultures during this time of learning how to address humanity’s pressing issues may be the just the guidance we need in these uncharted waters.
Written by Tatum Eames, Western Washington University Senior and Climate Justice Now Intern.