(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Mary Yazzie, a board member of Utah Diné Bikéyah, says a few words to the crowd before the blessing of the Bear Totem, at the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake. Thursday, July 19, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The 9-foot tall and 3-foot wide Bear Totem, which weighs more than a ton, sits in the back of a truck at the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake during a stop-over on it's way to the Bears Ears. Thursday, July 19, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Groups of people gather at the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake to see the 9-foot tall and 3-foot wide Bear Totem, which weighs more than a ton, and is believed to come with healing properties. Thursday, July 19, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Alejandro Yazzie, 14, stands with his grand mother, Mary Yazzie, who is a board member of Utah Diné Bikéyah, Thursday, July 19, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brothers Doug and Jewell James from Lummi Nation, sing a song at the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake. Thursday, July 19, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Alejandro Yazzie, 14, stands with his grand mother, Mary Yazzie, who is a board member of Utah Diné Bikéyah, Thursday, July 19, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Master carver, Jewell James from Lummi Nation, sings a song with his brother Doug James, at the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake. Thursday, July 19, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Wicahpi anpao, 4, touches the Beat Totem with Sheila Urias from Skull Valley, at the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake. The 9-foot tall and 3-foot wide Bear Totem, weighs more than a ton, and is believed to come with healing properties. Thursday, July 19, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Master carver, Jewell James from Lummi Nation, says a few words about the Bear Totem that he carved with his brother Doug, and drove from the pacific Northwest to the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake. Thursday, July 19, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Thursday, July 19, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Doug James shows his drum to Alejandro Yazzie, 14, and Mary Yazzie, during a ceremony and blessing of the Bear Totem, Thursday, July 19, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Mary Yazzie, a board member of Utah Diné Bikéyah, puts her hand on the Bear Totem, at the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake. The 9-foot tall and 3-foot wide Totem, weighs more than a ton, and is believed to come with healing properties. Thursday, July 19, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Groups of people gather at the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake to see the 9-foot tall and 3-foot wide Bear Totem, which weighs more than a ton, as it make it's way to the Bears Ears. Thursday, July 19, 2018.
Representatives of the Lummi Nation made a stop Wednesday evening at the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake City, where they held a blessing of 9-foot tall and 3-foot wide bear totem on its way to the Bears Ears Summer Gathering. The totem, which weighs more than a ton, is believed to have have healing properties and is a gift from the Lummi people, of Washington state, to the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition. According to Utah Diné Bikéyah, the bear totem symbolizes support for the restoration of Bears Ears National Monument. It’s now on its way to the summer gathering, held July 2-22 at Bears Ears Meadow.
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