Snoqualmie Family Canoe Journey July 2003

Imagine the salty smell of ocean air, the sway of a dugout canoe under your body, and the chilly splash of waves in your face. One hundred years or more ago, that would have been a central part of life for Native Americans in the Pacific NW. Canoes were carved from massive trees (primarily cedar).

The canoes were the main transportation and fish, whales, and shellfish were central to survival. For Indians in the Pacific NW today, the canoe way of life continues to be a rite of passage through new doorways and a spiritual symbol of healing transformation.

Canoe History in the Northwest Canoe Picture 1912 from Tulalip website

The Canoe Journeys in the Pacific NW began formally as a rediscovery of NW Native Culture in 1989.

The Snoqualmie Tribe began to participate in this resurgence of tradition on the Canoe Journey of We were guests of the Raven Society with the Suquamish Tribe. The Snoqualmie Tribe began to participate in this resurgence of tradition on the Canoe Journey of We were guests of the Raven Society with the Suquamish Tribe. Picture from Duane Pasco’s website

Throughout the 2003 year, the Snoqualmie Tribe built their dugout canoe. It had been many years since the Snoqualmie people had built their own canoe. Carver Ray Natral worked with the Snoqualmie people in building a dugout canoe. Many of the youth participated in this process as well. It had been many years since the Snoqualmie people had built their own canoe. Carver Ray Natral worked with the Snoqualmie people in building a dugout canoe. Many of the youth participated in this process as well.

It took several months to complete the building of Spirit of the Salmon. It took several months to complete the building of Spirit of the Salmon. A photo journal was compiled, however the elders have said that those pictures are sacred and not to be shared publicly. A photo journal was compiled, however the elders have said that those pictures are sacred and not to be shared publicly.

Upon completion of the canoe, it was blessed and named by tribal elders.

The Canoe Journey is important on many levels in family’s lives It engages people mentally, physically, traditionally, spiritually, intellectually and emotionally. The Canoe Journey is important on many levels in family’s lives It engages people mentally, physically, traditionally, spiritually, intellectually and emotionally.

The Snoqualmie Tribal community is one in which the components and requirements of the Canoe Journey have been a traditional way of living and being. The Snoqualmie Tribal community is one in which the components and requirements of the Canoe Journey have been a traditional way of living and being.

Family involvement with the canoe Year round participation and preparation Year round participation and preparation Drug/alcohol free and violence free Drug/alcohol free and violence free Talking circles Talking circles Potlatch Potlatch Paddle and drum making Paddle and drum making Parenting Parenting Learning from elders Learning from elders

Family Involvement (cont.) Cold water training Cold water training CPR/1 st Aid CPR/1 st Aid Ground squirrel training Ground squirrel training Material gathering Material gathering Singing, drumming, language classes Singing, drumming, language classes

Canoe family members create traditional crafts for give aways which respect and honor tribal leaders/elders and canoe project leaders. Canoe family members create traditional crafts for give aways which respect and honor tribal leaders/elders and canoe project leaders. Those family members over the age of 12 will do the actual training to pull on the canoe. Those family members over the age of 12 will do the actual training to pull on the canoe.

Younger children and family members who do not paddle, learn how to take down and set up tents, prepare meals, set up and take down camp, and support the people pulling on the canoe. Younger children and family members who do not paddle, learn how to take down and set up tents, prepare meals, set up and take down camp, and support the people pulling on the canoe.

Overall Goals for Participants Teamwork Teamwork Communication Communication Respect for self and others Respect for self and others Honor of traditions Honor of traditions Responsibility and accountability to the family and community Responsibility and accountability to the family and community Education/history through storytelling and cultural tradition Education/history through storytelling and cultural tradition

What participants gain from this experience Commitment: sobriety, school, to one another and to the journey Commitment: sobriety, school, to one another and to the journey Purification and Healing Purification and Healing Identity Identity Reconciliation and healing Reconciliation and healing Reconnection to the community and traditional ways of living Reconnection to the community and traditional ways of living Ceremony, story and meaning Ceremony, story and meaning

Positive Meanings of the Canoe Journey The best thing about this project as an engagement strategy, is that it is fun and exciting for families. The best thing about this project as an engagement strategy, is that it is fun and exciting for families. It is a journey and an adventure for all participants. It is a journey and an adventure for all participants. It is a way to understand who we are as Indian people living in the NW. It is a way to understand who we are as Indian people living in the NW. Most importantly, we all learn as a Canoe Family from one another and grow as Indian people in becoming one. Most importantly, we all learn as a Canoe Family from one another and grow as Indian people in becoming one.

Canoe Journey as an Engagement Strategy when working with families involved with Child Welfare Social Services offers the Canoe Journey Project to families as part of a Service plan Social Services offers the Canoe Journey Project to families as part of a Service plan Service plan is then the court required services for reunification Service plan is then the court required services for reunification Caretakers of children and parents involved with children on the Canoe Journey with support from the Canoe Family Caretakers of children and parents involved with children on the Canoe Journey with support from the Canoe Family Sobriety is required throughout the journey Sobriety is required throughout the journey Non-adversarial interaction in addressing child welfare concerns Non-adversarial interaction in addressing child welfare concerns Community accountability for one’s behavior and actions Community accountability for one’s behavior and actions

Thank you! Huy’ We wish to thank all of you for witnessing our journey of We wish to thank all of you for witnessing our journey of We worked very hard and our families and ourselves are forever changed by this experience. We worked very hard and our families and ourselves are forever changed by this experience. We have learned that when we come together in our traditional ways, we become whole as Indian people We have learned that when we come together in our traditional ways, we become whole as Indian people

Spirit of the Salmon 2003