Page 1 - August 2012

CHEHALIS The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation “People of the Sands” TRIBAL NEWSLETTER August 2012 Free Chehalis Canoe Family Participates in Inter-tribal Canoe Journey 2012 Paddle to Squaxin! discipline is especially important The Chehalis Canoe Family for the children in the camps. They participated in the 2012 Paddle are expected to take direction from to Squaxin. This is the sixth year tribal elders, stick to a curfew, participating in the inter-tribal and take part in the protocol canoe journey that started over ceremonies in the pavilions at twenty-three years ago. It is a night. Reminding them they spiritual journey returning the are actually there to experience cultural teachings back to the tribal the culture. Sometime you can people. see them beading their regalia, practicing our canoe family songs, A JOURNEY OF DISCIPLINE or making gift items to given at fnal protocol. Most important of all it is a Drug and Alcohol Free journey. Before Final Landing at the Port departing, canoe family members Final day on the water as all the Canoe Families landed in Budd of Olympia sign a code of conduct, which Inlet at the Port of Olympia. Pictured is tuulap tit wiiA and her includes the promise they will not skipper and pullers honoring the Squaxin island Tribe before On Sunday, July 29 was the fnal consume drugs or alcohol. Family joining the flotilla of canoes. day on the water where 102 canoes members can be sent home if they landed at the Port of Olympia in don’t follow the code. It doesn’t up. In circle is a time to discuss the front seat sets the pace. It may Budd Inlet. What a sight! The happen often — but it happens. the plans for the next day, leaving look like they are racing, but they time for the pullers, ground crew are real strong prayers. Squaxin Island greeted them with Traveling together with “One established on breaking down camp the beating of the drums and Heart, One Mind” as a family is and moving to the next location. The discipline of the canoe extends songs sung echoed across the loud a holistic and instrumental part to life into the sprawling camps speakers. An osprey hovered of learning about each other. The journey isn’t an easy path that spring up at every landing above the canoes greeting them in Problem solving as a family unit; to self discovery. On the water, along the journey. There are turn. What a moment. The canoes being happy to see each other; the canoe demands respect and incidents and they are solved sang their canoe family songs, working together setting up camp; is known to many as a vehicle to as a family during circle. The Continued on Page 2... respecting each other’s space; self- healing. Our canoe, tuulap tit discipline. Most of all, praying wiiA (Tu-lap ti weah) is a beautiful together: for the health of our sacred cedar strip canoe. Skippers sacred mother earth, the families and puller honor her each day with and communities. Learning about prayers for a safe journey. If the the teachings from the Elders and weather is stormy, the experience leaders give our canoe family such can be grueling and scary. a solid core. Somewhere on the leg of a journey, the good work will bring an Rules set as consequences (not epiphany and things will become punishments) teaching members clearer to what our ancestor’s a core value that many of us teaching gifts a puller. Each time don’t forget. Self-discipline on the paddle hits the water is a prayer the water: it was an honor to be and another step closer to the goals selected by the skipper to be a for the day. Power pulls dedicated puller for a leg of the journey. to individuals pick the canoe up When you heard the call, “Chehalis and it feels like fowing on air. It is Skipper Gail White Eagle asks permission from Squaxin Canoe Family Circle-up!” The awe-inspiring to witness the pullers Island Tribal Elders to come ashore to share songs and canoe family members would circle using their paddles in unison as dance during the final landing at the Port of Olympia.