Honor Native Land Tax
Do you live in traditional Lummi Nation territory?
The Lhaq’temish people have lived in the Salish Sea region for thousands of years. The map to the right shows their traditional territory. The Lhaq’temish people lived in permanent villages along the sea and waterways, which also served as travel and trade routes. Coast Salish people gathered in the Islands to harvest shellfish and salmon from the sea, camas in prairies, berries along streams and in forests.
The Lhaq’temish people traditional means of subsistence was fishing for salmon, gathering shellfish and plants, and hunting waterfowl and mammals. Salmon, however, were their most important food source. Because salmon migration is cyclic, Lummi people’s movements coincided with the arrival of the salmon, and their fishing success depended on the size of the annual salmon runs. Thousands of years of close observation and experience in their environment allowed the Lummi to develop sophisticated and ingenious ways to create everything they needed—from clothing and shelter to tools—and to invent unique methods of catching salmon.
What is the Honor Native Land Tax?
The Honor Tax is a way of recognizing and respecting the sovereignty of Native Nations, and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
This is a “tax” out of respect for Native Sovereignty – rather than a gift or donation. We all live on traditional Native homelands. If you do not live in Lummi territory you can initiate an Honor Tax in your community!
The Honor Tax was not in any way initiated by the Lummi Nation, although they have formally agreed via their Tribal Council to accept the Honor Tax. The Honor Tax was initiated by individuals, organizations and businesses who want to actively recognize the sovereignty of the Lhaq’temish Tribe and their right to their traditional land.
The Honor Tax is a voluntary annual tax paid directly to the Lummi Nation by people who are on their traditional territories. The amount is decided by the individual.
“Tribal governments play a vital role in providing essential services to their citizens, yet unlike other governments that can levy taxes on property, land, and income, Tribal Governments face unique challenges due to the occupation of their ancestral territories. As our people already contribute to local, state, and federal taxes, we cannot impose additional taxes on them, especially since tribal lands are held in trust by the federal government or taxed by other entities. Consequently, the Lummi Nation primarily relies on grant funding, which can make us vulnerable to the unpredictable nature of federal policies and nonprofit foundations that often dictate the terms of funding usage. The Honor tax is a crucial mechanism for fostering our economic sovereignty, empowering us to allocate funds according to our priorities without external restrictions.”
How to Contribute
Download the Honor Tax Form
Mail your payment to:
Lhaq’temish Foundation
2665 Kwina Road
Bellingham, WA 98226-9298
Testimonials
“I Participate in the Wiyot Honor Tax as a way of direct reparation to the People on whose land I now live.”
“As a member of a neighoring Tribal Nation, I have a cultural obligation to acknowledge Wiyot homeland and pay respect to the Wiyot People for living on their traditional territories. The Honor Tax provides a way to fulfill my responsibilities as a Yurok person.”
“The Honor Tax is small compensation for the grief and loss the Wiyot people have suffered. We feel honored by the graciousness with which they accept our presence here today and by this opportunity to contribute.
“Our organization pays the tax because we have a commitment to justice and to honoring the sovereignty of native peoples and nations.”