The Healing Totem

On June 10th, 1999, a pipeline carrying gasoline through the city of Bellingham ruptured, spilling 277,000 gallons of gasoline into Whatcom Creek. An 18-year-old youth fly-fishing in the creek was overcome by the fumes and drowned, and two 10-year-old boys playing in the creek died from burns sustained when the fuel ignited.

This healing totem and the benches were created by the Lummi Nation House of Tears under the direction of Head Carver Jewell James to honor the victims and their families. The benches are in the form of a bear and an orca (killer whale). Tokens of the three lives lost were sealed in the box on top of the pole.

There's a good YouTube video of the healing ceremony at the dedication in 2007. You need to fast forward to 6:39.

Google Olympic Pipeline Explosion for more information and spectacular photos of the disaster.