Background

First Nations people regard the canoe with the same respect given to the bighouse. For many, the canoe is a symbol of safe passage through many doors, and of overcoming many obstacles.

In 1986, a single canoe travelled from Bella Bella (Heiltsuk territory) to accept a challenge to complete a journey to the opening of Expo '86 in Vancouver. In 1993, twenty-five canoe nations accepted the challenge of the Heiltsuk people to paddle to Bella Bella for their festival called QATUWAS, which means "people gathering in one place." These challenges support balance and a holistic approach to healthy lifestyles for individuals, families and communities.

"Tribal Journeys '94 became a part of the Opening Ceremonies at the (Victoria) Inner Harbour to launch the 1994 Commonwealth Games. The inspiration was provided by previous journeys, such as the QATUWAS Festival. Tribal Journeys '94 was an initiative that we promoted to get all of the First Nations people involved. Since then, we've had several other ones, and more recently, in 1996, we launched from Nanoose, went to Squamish and back to Nanoose and progressed on down to the Inner Harbour to kick off the countdown to Tribal Journeys '97."
- CHIEF FRANK NELSON

The DZUNU'GWUN'GIS is a newly built canoe styled after a design not seen in traditional Kwakwaka'wakw canoes for over 200 yrs. It is a war canoe with its bow widened and raised to deflect spear and projectile attacks. It is a great honour to bring this canoe alive again and carry its spirit. Her crew will help her to Victoria, down an old path that the canoe's spirit had travelled before. [SOURCE: CHEIF FRANK NELSON]

The Journey grows....

July 23/97
"I'm enjoying every bit of it. We've had rough water, flat water, everything. Amazing. Tons of paddlers, lots of support boats. Some canoes have two support boats. The QU'ISINO is travelling with a punt boat for support. We're doing paddles of up to 12 or 16 hours a day. We're just about in Campbell River now: one more turn and we're through. The crews are averaging four or five hours of sleep a night. We sit together, talk together, do things together. People HAVE to travel this journey. I'm sure there's five new canoes today, and we'll be picking up more."
[JANE, a crew member of the DZUNU'GWUN'GIS]

Tribal Journeys not to be overshadowed

July 21/97 -- ALERT BAY
According to Chief Frank Nelson, "Our way is not to go and speak publicly, but there is an underlying purpose of the Tribal Journey, a process of rekindling the spirit". The event provides "an opportunity for our young people to glimpse into their souls" and discover an awareness of themselves, their people and their environment. Nelson admits to feeling a little overshadowed by Vision Quest (a canoe odyssey running concurrently with the Tribal Journey) and the good things they are trying to accomplish, raising money to help those who have fallen prey to the challenge. "But we want to try to get to them before they go under. We want them to be able to face the challenge, to assert their destiny. They don't know what's at the other end, but when they finish this journey, reflecting on the experience will make them stronger." [FNAI]

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