This year’s Tribal Journeys event culminated on August 5th, 2024 and was a resounding success.
(Shown here: Video of W̱SÁNEĆ landing)
Tribal Journeys are annual traditional canoe voyages during which canoe families representing individual First Nations and Tribes paddle long distances across ancestral waterways to a shared location for five Protocol Days. Tribal Journeys are an opportunity to celebrate the reemergence of Coast Salish culture and communities on the water, preserve cultural knowledge, and encourage the continued use of canoes.
When it comes to Tribal Journeys, the journey is just as important as the destination. As each canoe family makes its way to the location of Protocol Days, paddlers make frequent stops to visit with communities along the way. Each visit is an opportunity to share food, song, and dance and to reconnect with relatives – including those made more distant by the colonial border dividing Canada and the United States.
For example, Sc’ianew (Beecher Bay) hosted canoe families on July 22nd and 23rd. On those dates, hundreds of paddlers visited with the Beecher Bay community, sharing songs and dances upon arrival. Beecher Bay also provided multiple meals and amenities to the paddlers, preparing them to paddle for another five to six days before arriving at Protocol Days.
Upon arrival at Protocol Days, each canoe family requests permission to land by raising paddles in a demonstration of peace and calling out. Then, the families are granted permission and welcomed on land for cultural protocol.
These lengthy journeys are made possible through months of preparation and planning and the support of many community members – including support boats, health volunteers, host communities which provide nourishment along the way, and the paddlers themselves. Significant time is spent preparing special regalia, preparing songs, and rehearsing dances in the months leading up to the event.
This year’s Tribal Journey’s event – known as the Power Paddle to Puyallup – was hosted by the Puyallup Tribe in Washington. The event focused on youth, with a stated intention to “teach our children and train them to be in the leadership positions.” According to Connie McCloud, culture director of the Puyallup, “The whole point of this Youth Journey is to teach our children so that you have the adults, you have the Elders, working with the youth to train them to be in the leadership position. It doesn’t eliminate anybody. It puts the focus on training our youth.”
(Photo courtesy of Janesta Lewis)
The 79 registered canoe families – including the W̱SÁNEĆ canoe family – landed at Owen’s Beach on July 31, 2024, and took part in Protocol Days from August 1st to August 5th. An estimated 5,000 people attended.
On each day of protocol, between 5 and 12 participating canoe families took the floor for a presentation. Each family had up to 90 minutes to share. During this time, no cameras or other electronic devices were allowed. Instead, the event had its own dedicated photographer.
(Photo courtesy of Janesta Lewis)
Meanwhile, participating youth enjoyed a full schedule of special events including Wellbriety events, Youth/Parent Talking Circles, kickball, Ice Cream Socials, art workshops, and a Native Concert Series. Additionally, each canoe family had the opportunity to choose four youth to represent the family in the “ILA Indigenous Games.” The games awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes in the categories of Strength of Mind, Strength of Body, Strength of Heart, and Strength of Spirit.
This year’s Tribal Journeys event is particularly significant given Tribal Journeys paused during 2020, 2021, and 2022 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event only resumed last year – in 2023 – and, in fact, was nearly canceled in 2024 when the original hosts – Ahousaht First Nation – realized they did not have capacity to move forward. Yet, participating communities rallied to ensure this important cultural event would not be put on pause again, planning and executing the entire event at Puyallup in a span of four months.
W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council is grateful to celebrate another year of Tribal Journeys and looks forward to supporting many more years of this critical resurgence of culture and community.