Page 4 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - July 2019

4

Community members gathered outside of the Tribal Center to send off the Chehalis Canoe Family with prayers and wishes for a safe paddle.

JOURNEY
From page 1 ‘It was pretty amazing.
Everyone has their own
instructing and keeping order
among everyone in the canoe. The reasons for coming out
skipper gives encouragement and
motivation to the crew. here. For me, it’s the
“It was pretty amazing,” experience as a whole.
Delamater said.
“Everyone has their own I get to meet new people
reasons for coming out here,”
Delamater said. “For me, it’s the from Hawaii to Alaska.’
experience as a whole. I get to – TODD DELAMETER,
meet new people from Hawaii to CHEHALIS TRIBAL MEMBER
Alaska. This is a way for people
to get out and meet another
person from another tribe. It’s the challenges of open-water
pretty awesome to see everyone’s paddling. He explained this
different points of view.” paddle took longer than expected
He continued participating in because the wind picked up and The Chehalis Tribe flag whirls in the wind after the canoe family
the journey so he could be out on they worked hard paddling against stationed the Tulap for the evening at the Tulalip resting point.
the water and appreciate nature. the current in the afternoon.
He enjoys going from village Struggles of paddling in way,” White-Eagle said. “We with the Chehalis Family. For her,
to village while the tribes show the canoes is very similar to decided that we need to do this for the journey is a way of healing,
hospitality and generosity. the perseverance that Native our people to come together and be and honoring tribal ancestors.
Additionally, he described American ancestors endured as able to practice our cultural ways.” She said time on the water
that it gives him the privilege of they used the rivers and ocean allows her to focus spiritually
seeing the way it used to be before waters as highways to travel. Continuing tradition and that this paddle was more
things changed and tribes isolated She also talked about how important to her because she
themselves on their reservations. Centuries ago, natives traveled they acquired the canoe from a suffered the loss of her father and
Back then, the intertribal aspect in both river and ocean canoes to Skokomish tribal member. other loved ones this year.
was more prevalent. different tribal territories to meet After receiving the vessel, it “When I’m out there on the
Going on the annual journey and trade with others. was repainted and given the name water, I just pray,” Daniels said.
makes it possible for him to view Gail White-Eagle, whose Tulap. They had a three-month “Each pull is a prayer.”
and understand how tribes used to Indian name is “SiSeeNaxAlt,” timeframe to prepare for their She said there are times where
operate. helped form the original Chehalis first journey, which required work she struggles with the heat, getting
“It gives you a glimpse into the Canoe Family in 2007 on the every single day leading up to the sunburned and battling wind and
past,” Delamater said. Paddle to Lummi. She said launch. currents.
traveling by canoe was a “way of White-Eagle is honored to During those moments, she
History of paddling life” for generations and explained see everyone who continues this finds support through fellow
After taking the 26-mile paddle her reason for helping put tradition on a yearly basis. Tribal paddlers. That momentum helps
from Suquamish to Tulalip, together a canoe family. member Norma Daniels returned her get through those rough
Delamater described some of “Our ancestors traveled this for her fourth summer of paddling patches.