Twenty canoes from across Canada are expected to land at Aylard Farm in East Sooke throughout the day on July 30 as their second-to-last stop on an annual sacred journey.
The Intertribal Canoe Journey, or Tribal Journeys, is an annual event bringing together First Nations from across Canada and the United States. Participating nations embark on a canoe journey to a predetermined location, where they meet for five days of celebration.
This year, that location is Elwha, just outside Port Angeles, Wash., where as many as 150 canoes will land on July 31. Before that, up to 20 canoes are expected to arrive at East Sooke's Aylard Farm on July 30 – some already eight or nine days into their journey.
They’ll be hosted by Sc'ianew First Nation for an evening of rest and celebration before embarking on the final leg of their journey. While Sc'ianew has participated in the event for over a decade, this year is particularly special, as they partnered with the Capital Regional District (CRD) and welcomed help from the RCMP and even constables from the army and navy, who helped prepare the site.
“There’s never been anything this big to Sc'ianew,” said Tlangomaa (Sheeba Sawyer), elected councillor from Sc'ianew First Nation, who is particularly excited to see new generations taking part in the event for the first time.
"Usually it's passing the torch, but we're passing the paddle," she joked.
Chief Russ Chipps said partnerships with groups like the CRD helped amplify the inclusiveness of the event.
“We’re the last stop before Port Angeles, so we’re getting more and more people here. So, we decided to partner with the CRD to bring that family spirit, togetherness and inclusiveness.”
This year also marks the first time Sc'ianew has been able to host the arrival of canoes at Aylard Farm. In the past, canoes would arrive at the Sc'ianew marina.
“We haven’t walked on this beach for years, some of us,” said Chipps.
“I know it’s a park and we can do it all the time, but we really don’t come here a lot since it’s been taken.”
Up to 100 attendees – including representatives from the CRD, Sc'ianew, RCMP and community members – stood on the beach at Aylard Farm to welcome the canoes. Chipps marked the event as one of healing.
“It seems like we’re putting medicine and good feelings of inclusivity back into the park,” said Chipps.
When canoes arrive at the shores of East Sooke Regional Park, they ask permission to come ashore – to eat, rest and celebrate on Sc'ianew lands.
Tlangomaa explained that Tribal Journeys is about connecting to the past and a traditional way of life.
“The reason we like to have Tribal Journeys is to connect each territory to our ancestors. Prior to the days of today, when we have moving vehicles and planes and all this stuff – 100 years ago this was the only way our people travelled,” said Tlangomaa.
“They travelled by sea to get to every other nation to work together, to share song and dance, and to share our culture with each and every person. In this regard, we can keep our ancestors alive by returning here – especially because this is the first time Sc'ianew Nation has been able to come to Aylard Farm and do something like this.”
Canoes come from far and wide to participate, with some joining from as far as Hawaii and Alaska. This year, one of the first canoes to land at Aylard was made up of members from the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory in Quebec.
Once the canoes have all arrived, they will gather at Becher Bay to share a meal, sing and dance – what Chipps called his favourite part. It will be a small showing of what’s expected when the canoes arrive in Elwha.
There, they will engage in protocol, a shared meal and celebration, where each nation is given up to 90 minutes to share their culture. The feeling of walking into protocol is one Tlangomaa described as being like magic.
Tribal Journeys began with the Paddle to Seattle in 1989, when 17 tribal nations from Canada and the U.S. gathered. The event coincided with the centennial celebration of Washington State and the signing of the Centennial Accord, which recognized the sovereignty of Indigenous nations in Washington.
Tribal Journeys has been held annually since 1989, when Frank Brown of the Heiltsuk First Nation challenged all canoes to paddle to Bella Bella, B.C., to keep the movement started in Seattle going. Since then, the event has grown to include more than 100 canoes each year. It is drug and alcohol-free – and as Chipps says, “Everyone is welcome.”
