Page 4 - August 2009

4 Canoe Journey (continued from page 1) Each person was responsible for fnished at 2 am. Everybody participated decorating their own regalia. There wasn’t in singing, drumming, and dancing to our a moment lost, as you could see elders, songs. We looked really good. We received youth, and adults working on their Coastal many compliments from other canoe Salish regalia. Many thanks go to Trudy families. We represented the tribe very well. Marcelley, Dianne Devlin, Sally Pikutark, There are so many people to thank for Cold water training was held at the Ike Kinswa State Park on Mayfield and Elaine McCloud as they worked such a fantastic and successful journey. Lake. Canoe Family Skipper Gail White Eagle took the new youth and diligently in preparing the vests and tunics It’s hard to mention them all. Our hands adults out to practice pulling. The cold water training was intense as that were worn during formal protocol. And, also go up to: Ray Krise for the use of his the canoe was flipped over and pullers worked in unison following the more thanks to the youth and adults who support boat; his cousin Bear and family for skippers orders to safely get into the canoe. This is a very important decorated them after receiving them. allowing us to camp out in their yard and use training to prepare for the worse case scenario while travelling on the Living and traveling with “one heart, their house; Suquamish Tribe for such an water. one mind” as a family is a holistic and outstanding job and hard work preparing and instrumental part of learning about each making this canoe journey so successful; other. Being a part of tribal journeys, you all the hosting tribes and their elders for begin to recognize the values that are sponsoring and keeping this honorable missing from the world in general -- like canoe tradition alive; Tribal Elders Trudy standing each other up, being happy to Marcellay, Dianne Devlin and Elaine see each other, feeling the love the of McCloud for all the work making regalia togetherness. We all had a common goal in for the new canoe family members; Sylvia, our hearts and minds. Our elders and leaders our Canoe Mama, for all the hard work she provided strong teaching, giving our Canoe contributes to the canoe family and helping Family such a strong core. Everyone who to keep everybody moving and making sure participated and represented the Chehalis that things were in order; our Skipper Gail Tribe was totally awesome! Great job, White Eagle has for doing a wonderful job everyone! this year as a leader and a mentor to our youth, and for staying so focused, which is a Protocol Each canoe family requests to enter and key for a skipper to be a true leader. The youth worked hard at putting beads on their regalia so we could look leave the shores of the hosting tribe. What Canoe Journey Preparation good going out on the protocol floor as a family. There were some youth an honor it is to request permission to enter On July 19, cold water training was held who put extra effort into their work. One in particular, Skylar Baker, who or leave. As you stand up in the canoe, you at the Ike Kinswa State Park on Mayfeld worked on his vest until he was completed. All the youth worked very hard focus on what is needed to announce with Lake. It was a sunny day, as the canoe during this year’s journey. We are proud of each and every one of them! honor and a good heart. family skipper Gail White Eagle took the Each hosting tribe had two types of new youth and adults out to practice pulling. protocol: formal and jam sessions. Formal The cold water training was intense as the protocol usually starts after dinner. Each canoe was fipped over and the pullers canoe family was selected in the order worked in unison with the team, following of farthest tribe to the hosting tribe. We the skippers orders to safely get everyone honored the hosting tribe by dressing up into the canoe. This is a very important in full Coastal Salish regalia, singing and training to prepare for the worse case drumming our songs, and honoring the scenario while travelling on tougher, open hosting elders, leaders and youth. water. The jam sessions usually took place after On July 25, tribal and community formal protocol was fnished as other canoe members witnessed the blessing of the family members started drumming and Chehalis canoe. Bones performed a blessing singing. It was a great time for sharing each for the canoe and prayed for the safety of other’s traditional songs and drumming. Our all the canoe family members and other Our final protocol at Suquamish was great. We went on the floor at 1 a.m. canoe family looked forward to these jam canoe families who were participating in and finished at 2 a.m. Our first year pullers were recognized. Everybody sessions. this journey. Jessie Goddard sang a Shaker sang and danced and we looked good; many other canoe families Power Pulls blessing song. Elders Mel Youckton and complimented us. On the journey, we learned that each pull Elaine McCloud also blessed this journey. Hands Up to Those People with our paddles is a prayer. “Power pulls” Canoe family members and leaders used were times for intense pulling. A puller cedar boughs and Chehalis river water to Who Helped Us Travel Safely would request and be given permission bless the canoe, praying for a safe journey. from the skipper dedicating the power pull What is the Canoe Journey? as a strong prayer for that person or thing. Our hands also go up to Ray Krise for When we pulled, we counted off the pulls. The canoe journey is a spiritual and the use of his support boat (L). He’s Each dip of the paddle was a dedicated healing time. It is a time for participants to pictured here loading up the support prayer for the requesting person. These pulls strive to conduct themselves in a manner crew as they leave from Tulalip to head uplifted the spirit and the canoe would lift that is honorable for the Chehalis people. towards Golden Gardens in Seattle. up and fow across the water effortlessly, The canoe journey is not a vacation: It is like the canoe had wings. Whenever it was serious work. The canoe is a sacred cedar Hands up to Ray’s announced on shore that our canoe was tree, a healing medicine to our spirit, a cousin, Bear, and arriving ahead of schedule, Tribal Elder connection to our ancestors and the Native family, for allowing Sylvia Cayenne would say, “My angels have and Chehalis tribal spirituality. We learn to us to camp in their wings today.” care for our canoe with dignity and respect. yard and use their All canoe family members sign a waiver house. Bear (R) Circle and code of conduct promising to adhere and his family are We learned that when we heard the call, to the Chehalis canoe family’s mission surrounded by “Chehalis Canoe Family Circle-Up!” We statement and philosophy. We promise to Chehalis Canoe needed to form a circle. In Circle, everyone promote the growth, healing and well being Family. lets the speaker be heard. Those who have of our tribe through cultural experiences a contribution to the canoe journey, take aimed at strengthening, preserving and Rules to Remember turns letting themselves be heard. Circle was rebuilding Native American values, beliefs also a time when issues were discussed and and practices related to the canoe tradition. handled as a family. Adhering to the mission statement and One rule that was strictly Rules philosophy of the canoe journey promotes enforced was to refrain from calling the canoe the Everyone had to refrain from calling the growth, healing and well-being of our tribe B - - -- word. Violators had to canoe the “b_ _ _” word. This was strictly through cultural experiences. The goal is swim to bring honor back to enforced, and violators would have to swim to strengthen, preserve, and rebuild Native the canoe. Also, we honored in order to bring honor back to the canoe. American values, beliefs, and practices the canoe by not spitting or Also, we honored the canoe by not spitting related to the canoe traditions and to throwing trash in the water. or throwing trash in the water. promote Native family values. The Chehalis Tribe strives for a healthy Canoe journey participants agree to the canoe group. We promised to refrain from following code of conduct: Violators who used profanity, or negative remarks had to perform 20 push the use of profanity, negativity, and use of  Be kind and respectful to others. Compliment ups. The pushups helped us get stronger for the next Day’s pull. alcohol and drugs on the canoe journey. and help others, especially youth. Be positive Violation of this rule was enforced by with our actions and words. Refrain from Skylar Bracero (L) and use of negative talk, feelings, thoughts and having to perform 20 push-ups. complaining. Practice positive thoughts to Darrin Jones Jr. (R) get Helping Out carry the canoe in a good way. stronger for the following day’s pull. Everybody participated in setting  Respect the canoe journey leaders, their up camp, which consisted of a kitchen, advice and opinions, honor their age and makeshift living room and tents all around.  wisdom. Respect the works and actions of the skipper Setting up tents and blowing up air and support boat captains. mattresses were necessary routines to move  Participate in the activities – setting up and The ground crew is a to the next destination. This year we got taking down camp, pulling the canoe, protocol crucial part of moving lucky and didn’t have to move very much. and dancing. to the next location. We had three coffee pots going at 5 am They are responsible each morning before the day’s pull. The Canoe Family Dinner to be Held for loading the truck night before a pull, our pullers would fll the on September 15 and reassembling the coolers with water, Gatorade, sandwiches The Chehalis Canoe Family Dinner will camp. They work as a and snacks for the following day. be held on September 26. We’ve also been team setting up tents for everyone. Pictured Final Protocol invited to the canoe races on September here is the ground crew Our fnal protocol at Suquamish was 12 and 13 at Mayfeld Lake. Next year’s leaving Lummi on the great. We went on the foor at 1 am and journey will be to the Makah Nation. first part of the journey.