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Fort Rupert
Alert Bay
Adams River
Brown Bay
Campbell River
Comox
Qualicum
Nanoose
Nanaimo
Kulleet Bay
Cowichan Bay
Tsawout
Songhees/Esquimalt.

News Bites

"When a canoe asks to come ashore for a night of rest, they may be asking their traditional enemies. It's important to seek permission, because it's not just us standing here on the beach - it's all of our ancestors standing here with us, and they're seeing the canoes of their enemies coming in." - Michelle Washington, as quoted in the Victoria Times Colonist July 26th, 1997.

According to an article in the Victoria Times Colonist, canoes from the Squamish Nation joining Tribal Journeys in Nanaimo are carrying a sacred bundle from the elders of Hobbema, Alberta. The bundle was "carried to Vancouver from Kamloops by runners before being put on the Squamish canoe." [SOURCE: Victoria Times Colonist July 26th, 1997]

The Sacred Bundle

- Designed through consultation with tribal elders for NAIG '90

- The Sacred Run (a relay) started from the Sacred Medicine Wheel area in the Wyoming Bighorn Mountains

- The month long relay ended at the opening ceremonies in Edmonton, 1990

- The Sacred Run, an integral part of NAIG, represents the strong link amongst all Aboriginal people

- In 1993, the Sacred Bundle was run from Edmonton, site of the first games, to Prince Albert, site of the second games

- The Blaine, Minnesota '90 Games incorporated this symbolic run

[SOURCE: Native American Sports http://www.codetalk.fed.us/naso.html]

TOTAL LENGTH
OF JOURNEY
Over six hundred
(600) miles

GROUPS REPRESENTED
Nisga'a, Tsimshian
Haida, Haisla
Heiltsuk, Oweekeno,
Kwakwaka'wakw
Coast Salish, Nuu Cha Nulth,
and representatives from Washington State.

August 1, 1997 -- The Victoria waterfront was alive with traditional canoes and support boats as the Tribal Journeys assemblage made their way to Esquimalt harbour and the Songhees lands. Some canoes traveled right along shore while others took a more direct route across various harbours and bays. The arrival in Victoria marks the end of the sea journey for many of the participants though some will be pushing on to Washington State after a few days rest.

Outer Coast Report - July 29th

Tim Jones in Port Renfrew: "The canoes have left Pacheedaht at about 8:30 this morning. They're making their way down to Sooke. The estimate of arrival is about eight hours. There were the typical stories about being sore and tired. They were happy to get into Pacheedaht. You could hear a sigh of relief when they came in."

One of the Inner Coast Canoes

Outer Coast Report - July 29th

"From what we found out yesterday, there were approximately eight canoes leaving Dididaht this morning, and they should be here around 2:30 p.m.,"said Tim Jones of the Pacheedaht Nation, who is coordinating the west coast Tribal Journeys arrival in Port Renfrew. "The weather's been excellent: foggy in the morning, and really, really hot."

The paddlers will be welcomed and given a late lunch. This will be followed by a get-acquainted gathering, and a crab and salmon feast later in the evening. They expect to be serving about 300 paddlers and support crew, as well as another 150 Pacheedaht Band members and guests.

A canoe from La Push (Washington State) has already arrived and will be joining the journey along with two support vehicles. Another three support vehicles from Victoria and Dididaht are also waiting to continue on to T'sou-ke and Songhees/Esquimalt.

The west coast assemblage, which started out from Ahousaht on July 24th, expects to be at least ten canoes strong when it links up with the east coast group on August 1st.

Chief Frank Nelson July 28, 1997 - Nanaimo "In the spirit of our ancestors Tribal Journeys departed from Port Hardy July 18, 1997. This journey has taken us to traditional territory of our First Nations people. Every community has had an opportunity to exercise the discipline provided by our ancestors.

Dictated by protocol we have entered each territory with request to disembark and refresh ourselves. Fort Rupert, Alert Bay, Campbell River, Comox, Qualicum, Nanoose, Nanaimo, have extended their welcomes to Tribal Journeys. We have been fed and welcomed in fine fashion. Tribal Journeys invited Vision Quest into the circle as they arrived in Fort Rupert. This journey demands our honour. This journey demands our courage. All the participants have fulfilled all of these expectations. Watching the building of my canoe was exhilarating. I strongly feel the whole crew has had an opportunity to mold their souls to be a part of this journey."

Cowichan Bay Prepares

According to a front-page story in the Duncan Pictorial, the Cowichan Band expects about 1000 guests when the Tribal Journeys flotilla arrives in Cowichan Bay July 30th. Members of the Coast Salish Eagles Canoe Club will paddle out to greet the travellers, and hope to join the journey to Victoria. The travellers will be welcomed by Arvid Charlie and Louise Underwood, according to Pictorial reporter Tia Abell. They will then be entertained by the Little Ravens and Tzinquaw dance groups before attending a feast at the Si'em Lelum Gym. Local Tribal Journeys organizer Jennifer Williams told the paper, "It's just an awesome vision, and the sound, it just gives me the goosebumps. And this is the way is used to be."
[SOURCE: Duncan Pictorial, July 27/97]

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