2008 Tribal Journey “Paddle to Cowichan”
By Fred Shortman
Heather Youckton respectfully requests permission to leave from West Saanich at Tsartlip.
Over fifty Chehalis youth, adults and Elders took part in the huge regional return-to-traditions journey, the Paddle to Cowichan Bay in July.
Tribal members from scores of Northwest coastal tribes pulled canoes, and were greeted on shore by hosting tribes. All learned and practiced centuries old protocol. The Chehalis Canoe Family worked together to pull the canoe over sometimes long, often hot stretches of open water.
Gail Miller, a Chehalis tribal skipper said, “The Canoe Journey gives us something to hang on to, something to look forward to, and to continue to work on. Our canoe family worked year-round to get where we are today, from learning songs, to training, to fund raising.”
Paddle to Cowichan
Originally published in our Chehalis Tribal Newsletter,
August 2008 which can be downloaded below.
