Patty M Viers

Thank you Inter-tribal Canoe Journey volunteers | Letters

On July 21-23, Islanders hosted over 230 tribal members from Heiltsuk, Kakawinchitl (Ahousaht), Bella Bella, Clayoquat, Cowichan, Songees, Tsawout, Victoria, Kwmut leleum and Lummi Nations from July 21-23.

Twelve canoes and their support crews traveled through the San Juan islands en route to the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in La Conner. Seventy-eight canoes and thousands of people gathered in La Conner from July 25-31 for a week of traditional dancing, singing and celebration.

Friends of the San Juans was honored to coordinate this San Juan Islands stop-over with the support from individuals like you. It was truly an inter-island community involving many volunteers from service groups, churches, businesses and residents from Waldron, San Juan, Orcas, Shaw and Lopez (see names below).

This September we will host a special thank you party for all volunteers and share images, stories, and celebrate. If you would like to share any special photo’s of this historic gathering I am preparing a slide show for this event. Please email images to: stephanie@sanjuans.org or mail CD’s to P.O. Box 1344 Friday Harbor, WA  98250.

The exchanges made between islanders and Coast Salish culture bearers, with their traditional knowledge from their communities, increases our collective understanding of culture, conservation and stewardship in the Salish Sea. The resurgence of canoe journeys began in 1989 during the Suquamish Tribe’s “Paddle to Seattle.” Then, in 1993, the Heiltsuk Nation in Bella Bella, B.C., challenged all canoe nations to travel by canoe to their village participate in the Qutawas Festival.

Twenty-eight canoes answered that challenge.

Today, more than a 100 canoes from as many as 90 U.S. Tribes, Canadian First Nations and New Zealand and an estimated 12,000 people participate in the annual Tribal Canoe Journeys. People pull together, sing and dance in a sharing of culture to honor past, present and future generations.

M, The Man Who Became Caravaggio

M. Butterfly

M Is for Magic

M is for Malice

M Or F?