Native Americans are transporting a 5,000-pound totem pole to D.C. from the Pacific Northwest

The pole was made from a 400-year-old Western red cedar tree that was cut, carved and painted with images of importance to Native Americans.

For Jewell “Praying Wolf” James, a Lummi Nation citizen and the master carver of the pole, it is “a reminder of the promises that were made to the first peoples of this land and waters.” He said he hopes that people will “share in their responsibility to safeguard the sacred sources of life — Earth, water and sky.”