6 JULY 15,2007
Smoke Signals
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Canoe Family member Jeff Martinez
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Canoe Family Prepares
For Annual Journey
In preparation for the annual Canoe Journey, about
60 people attended the launching of the canoe on the
Willamette River in Independence. Everyone from Tribal
Elders to Tribal Youth wanted the opportunity to paddle
the two canoes from Independence to Wallace Marine
Park in West Salem, a distance of about 1 2 miles. It
took the canoes about three hours to reach their final
destination. More than 200 people awaited the arrival
of the canoes and when they finally reached the park,
everyone in attendance celebrated with Canoe Family
songs and dance and a barbecue.
This year's annual canoe journey, "2007 Paddle to
Lummi," will begin for Grand Ronde's Canoe Family on
Friday, July 20. They will depart from Squaxin Island on
Saturday, July 21 . They will paddle for about 1 0 days
until finally reaching the Lummi Nation on Monday,
July 30, a distance of about 200
miles. After reaching their final
destination, the Lummi Nation will
welcome the participants of the
canoe journey which traditionally
consists of more than 80 different
northwest Tribes. During the final
four days of the journey, each
Tribe will give a final protocol and
speak on the behalf of their Tribe
and what the canoe journey means
for not only them as a whole
but also them individually. The
journey will then officially wrap up
on Saturday, August 4.
Photos by
Toby McClary
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