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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2018)
AUGUST 15, 2018 S moke S ignals 13 Canoe Journey ended on July 28 CANOE JOURNEY continued from front page ter is when we tell jokes and ask random questions,” said 16-year- old Kailiyah Krehbiel, who has been on eight journeys. “It’s hard paddling for hours, but also fun.” The Grand Ronde Canoe Family began paddling in Samish, Wash., on Monday, July 23, and ended in Puyallup, Wash., with landing day on Saturday, July 28. Stops occurred at Swinomish, Tu- lalip, Suquamish and Muckleshoot. After landing day, participating Tribes set up camp in Puyallup and waited for their protocol time. Protocol lasted all day, from about 9 a.m. to midnight, at nearby Chief Leschi School. Protocol is an opportunity for the canoe families to share songs and dances. The order of protocol is that the Tribe that travels the farthest to attend goes first. Grand Ronde began its protocol at 1:52 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1. “Protocol is the best part,” Kreh- biel said. “I love listening to other Tribe’s songs and when we go up dancing to our songs.” At protocol, the Tribe’s Cultural Advisor Bobby Mercier introduced himself in Chinuk Wawa and En- glish. “I’m very happy to be here in the land of Puyallup again and love all of the beautiful work you have done for our people,” he said. “I am happy to bring our family here.” The Grand Ronde Canoe Family opened protocol by performing “Stankiya,” which is one of the old- est names the Tribe has for coyote, as well as it being the name of one of its canoes. “When we put that name on our canoe, we knew it would make changes in our community,” Mer- cier said. Other songs the Canoe Family performed included, “Traveling With Our Ancestors,” “Old Woman Song,” “Salmon Song,” “Thunder- bird Song” and “New Beginnings.” Mercier closed Grand Ronde pro- tocol by gifting the Puyallup people with homemade salsa and jam from the Community Garden, other small gifts and a paddle from the journey. In turn, Puyallup gifted Grand Ronde with Tribal blankets. The Canoe Family ended with “Ancestor Song.” “We can come here and feed our Indian, and come feed our spirit,” Mercier said. “We will be taking this experience back with us and sharing with our families how well we have been treated.” The journey During the journey itself, skip- pers are tasked with leading the canoes in more ways than one. They read the water and act as counselors, motivational speakers and supervisors, sometimes simul- taneously. “It is one of those experiences that will make or break a skipper,” Cultural Education Specialist Brian Krehbiel said. “Trying to deal with all of the dynamics of Teen Pregnancy Pre- vention Coordinator Va- leria Atanacio has been on journey seven times. This year, she brought her daughters, 2-year-old Safia and 4-month-old Amira. “I really love just being in a place where you feel good about your culture,” she said. “It’s a great feel- ing to be here, singing and dancing. You really get to know each other and become a family.” Tribal Council Secre- tary Jon A. George and Tribal Council members Lisa Leno, Brenda Tuomi, Kathleen George and De- nise Harvey participat- ed during various times during Canoe Journey. All spoke highly of the Puyallup Tribe’s wel- Photo by Michelle Alaimo coming nature, which From left, Grand Ronde Canoe Family members and Tribal youth Sedona Williams, included free breakfast Kaleigha Simi and Dakota Smith wash the dinner dishes at the Canoe Family’s camp at the and dinner all week, a 2018 Canoe Journey “Power Paddle to Puyallup” on Tuesday, July 31. separate tent stocked with food and drink for Elders, and trailers of mobile showers and “It is cool showing them where 50 sets of washers and dryers at the we are from and how we do things campground. a little differently,” he said. “Every At camp on a sunny evening, Jon year, we get new lessons and learn George looked around at everyone new things.” eating dinner, beading and talking, Holmes described Canoe Journey then said, “This is what it is all as both a “physical and mental about.” test.” 12 different people is the biggest “Landing day is very exciting and “It teaches us to be more commu- challenge. I can really say the canoe emotional, but when it comes down nal and not single families as much takes care of you.” to it, this is what gives these children and helps us be more dependent on Krehbiel has served as skipper the experience of being a part of a each other,” he said. since 2011, a duty he shares with family,” he said. “That to me is the The Canoe Journey began in 1989 brother Bobby Mercier. most important thing. For me, this with the “Paddle to Seattle,” that “The hardest part for me is con- camp is where it all comes together.” was held in conjunction with Wash- tinuing this throughout the year ington’s 100th anniversary of state- and getting on the water enough, ‘The incredible effort’ hood. The state and indigenous trying to get more time together During the Legislative Action governments signed the Centennial and ocean trips,” he said. “We also Committee meeting on Tuesday, Accord that year, recognizing indig- need a few more canoes.” Aug. 7, Tribal Council members enous sovereignty. Fifteen Tribes Despite the challenges, Krehbiel reflected more on the experience. and First Nations participated in returns again and again. “It was a very positive and suc- the “Paddle to Seattle.” “I want people to know that who- cessful Canoe Journey,” Kathleen Today, upwards of 100 canoes ever you are, wherever you come George said. “I want to recognize representing as many as 90 U.S. from, everyone is equal on the wa- the incredible effort that goes into Tribes and Canadian First Nations, ter,” he said. this experience. There is an incred- and approximately 12,000 people Grand Ronde’s Canoe Family ible effort from our staff members participate in the annual journey, first participated in the 2005 Canoe to make this experience available paddling canoes, operating support Journey, which landed on Holly- to our youth. … The Puyallup Tribe boats, acting as ground crew, sing- wood Beach in Port Angeles, Wash. that hosted this, it is a monumental ing, dancing and sharing Tribal The following year, Grand Ronde undertaking. You are managing cultures and traditions. built its first canoe, Stankiya, still thousands of people around the Canoe Journey was designed as a used today. clock.” family-friendly event to familiarize Joey Holmes, 26, recalls helping Vice Chair Chris Mercier enjoyed northwest Tribes with the trade to build the canoe and how the watching the live feed that Puyal- routes used by their ancestors and journey has evolved in the past 12 lup provided. to promote a healthy lifestyle free years. “For those who can’t make it, of substance abuse. “That first year, we were drinking this feels like the next best thing,” Children and Family Support Red Bulls and eating Clif bars and he said. Service Specialist Zoey Holsclaw rice crispy treats,” he says. “We Jon George also noted this year said that being in the canoe is her were pretty wired.” had the most Tribal Council mem- favorite part of journey. Holmes said that Canoe Journey bers in attendance that he could “I love the experience of being changed his life forever. recall. out on the water,” she said. “A “It gave me an identity for the “It is a beautiful time in our lot of paddling is mental, really first time in my life,” he said. “Help- history,” he said. “We see youth 90 percent of it. … You’re dealing ing build Stankiya gave us a sense paddle in canoes alongside Elders. with different personalities so it’s of ownership. … I got to know a lot … Canoe Journey originally started important to work as an efficient of people from surrounding Tribes as a clean and sober activity, and team.” and build on those relationships.” many of those children who par- This year, she served as lead Holmes said that most Native ticipated are still clean and sober pull and also assisted with skipper peoples outside of Oregon and adults today.” duties. southwest Washington have not The Lummi Nation of Belling- “I keep on going even when I re- heard of the Grand Ronde Tribe, ham, Wash., will host the next Trib- ally want to rest because someone so it was nice to get the name out al Canoe Journey in July 2019. has got to do it,” Holsclaw said. there.
