Native leaders to hold two-week campaign against Roadless Rule repeal 

Indigenous leaders from Se’Si’Le and Lummi Nation’s House of Tears Carvers are launching a two-week campaign across the Pacific Northwest in response to the Trump administration’s plan to repeal the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a policy that has protected vast lands of national forest for more than two decades.  

The campaign, called “Xaalh and the Way of the Masks,” will kick off with a rally in Olympia on Monday, Sept. 8, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., followed by eight other events across a 1,700-mile journey through tribal lands, houses of worship, colleges and public gathering places.  

Roadless policy 

The Roadless Rule, enacted in 2001 under the Clinton administration, restricts road construction and development across nearly 60 million acres of national forests and grasslands.  

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced an intent to repeal the rule in June, arguing the policy is outdated and overly restrictive.  

A United States Department of Agriculture press release states that the Roadless Rule, being overly restrictive, harms 30% of National Forest System lands. It claimed nearly 60% of Utah’s forest service land, 58% in Montana and 92% of Alaska’s Tongass National Forest are restricted from road development, preventing proper fire risk management.

The rule also hurt rural economies with Utah estimating a 25% decrease in forestry sector economic development due to roadless restrictions along.  

“This administration is dedicated to removing burdensome, outdated, one-size-fits-all regulations that not only put people and livelihoods at risk but also stifle economic growth in rural America," Rollins said.

"It is vital that we properly manage our federal lands to create healthy, resilient, and productive forests for generations to come. We look forward to hearing directly from the people and communities we serve as we work together to implement productive and commonsense policy for forest land management."

In a follow-up announcement on Aug. 27, Rollins also announced the release of a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement on the proposed repeal of the Roadless Rule. The notice was available for public inspection in the Federal Register on Aug. 28 and published in the Aug. 29 issue.  

The proposed rescission would include Alaka’s Tongass National Forest, the largest old-growth forest. It would not affect state-specific rules for management of roadless areas in Idaho and Colorado. The 2025 rescission would apply to nearly 45 million acres of inventoried roadless areas within the National Forest System.  

However, tribal leaders emphasized that protective measures, such as the Roadless Rule have safeguarded approximately 2 million acres of wild forests in both Oregon and Washington, drinking water for more than 60 million Americans, and habitat for more than 1,6000 threatened and endangered plants and animals.  

Xaalh and Way of Masks campaign 

The gatherings will feature a 12-foot transformation totem pole known as the “Bear-Becomes-Person,” cedar masks carved by the House of Tears Carves and ceremonious honoring Xaalh — the sacred balance of life. 

The September events will also highlight the connection between treaty rights, indigenous knowledge, environmental justice, health rivers, salmon habitat and climate resilience. Ten cedar masks symbolizing xaah — the sacred balance of life — will be carved and gifted to hosts along the way.  

 “The ancient forests provide our people with sәla-exʷ: (the strength that comes from the old ones),” said Jewell James, master carver from the Lummi Nation’s House of Tears Carvers. “They are integral to our ancestral cultural ways of knowing nature and our spiritual beliefs and practices.” 

Organizers say the campaign is intended to unite native nations, faith leaders and environmental organizations in defense of forests, rivers, salmon habita, and indigenous lifeways. 

Tour dates:  

Sept. 6 - Bellingham, Maritime Heritage Park, noon to 2 p.m. 

Sept. 8 – Olympia, rally at the Capitol steps, 4 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. 

Sept. 10 – Portland, Oregon,  Billy Frank Jr. Room at the EcoTrust Building, 721 NW 9th Ave., 2nd floor, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Sept. 11 – Eugene, Oregon,  UU Church in Eugene, 1685 W. 13th Ave., 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Sept. 13 – Klamath River (location to be announced), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Sept. 15 – Hood River, Oregon, Rockford Grange 
4262 Barrett Drive, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 17 – Asotin,  Chief Looking Glass Park  
305 1st St., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sept. 19 – Seattle,  Woodland Park Zoo PACCAR Auditorium, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Sept. 20 – Lower Elwha, (location to be announced), 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.