S moke S ignals
june 15, 2014
Tribal youth, from front, Promise Rimer, Mataya Holmes, Miguel Adams, True Rimer
and Kailiyah Krehbiel all took a turn being skipper of ulxayu during Canoe Camp at
Detroit Lake on Saturday, May 31.
Stankiya drifts with the sail up during Canoe Camp at Detroit
Lake on Saturday, May 31. Conditions on the lake gave the
Canoe Family an opportunity to use the sail.
Journey prep
On Sunday, June 22, the Grand Ronde Canoe Family is planning to leave Grand
Ronde on this year’s Canoe Journey. They will drive to Victoria, British Columbia,
and begin paddling the approximately 450 miles to Bella Bella, on the east coast of
Campbell Island, for the Qatuwas (people gathering together) Festival. They will
participate in Landing Day on July 13, then protocol ceremonies that will take place
through July 19. The entire journey — driving to Victoria through the end of proto-
col — will last about a month. This year’s route is longer and more remote than pre-
vious journey’s, which makes logistics of it diffi cult for the typical 130 people to take
part, so only about 30 people are participating this year. For this reason, a Canoe
Camp was held at Detroit Lake on Friday, May 30, to Sunday, June 1. Throughout
the weekend, 90 people attended the camp that included camping and paddling op-
portunities for those who are unable to go on this year’s journey.
Lyjah Murray, 2, left,
watches as his cousin
Aleena Leno, 5, makes
a water balloon during
Canoe Camp at Detroit
Lake on Saturday, May 31.
Tessa Simmons, front, and Kailiyah Krehbiel
take a break from paddling and playing in the
water and rest in ulxayu during Canoe Camp at
Detroit Lake on Saturday, May 31.
Heyaza Brien
takes part in a
paddle in Stankiya
during Canoe
Camp at Detroit
Lake on Saturday,
May 31.
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
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