Tribal Canoe Journey

The Tribal Canoe Journey is a yearly event that honors the traditions of transport, trade and gathering among the coastal tribes of the Northwest. Each year the celebration takes place at a different site in the coastal Pacific Northwest. The Muckleshoot tribe of Auburn, Washington was the host of the summer 2006 Tribal Canoe Journey. Tribes, in more than 70 canoes, traveled from the North Coast of British Columbia, Vancouver Island, Western Washington, Western Oregon, and the Puget Sound to the final destination at Magnuson Park on Lake Washington in Seattle. From there, they were transported to the Muckleshoot Reservation in Auburn where they participated in a week long celebration of tribal coastal culture. The canoe journey was revitalized in 1989 as the "Paddle to Seattle" by Emmett Oliver, a Quinalt tribe member along with the Washington State Centennial Commission. The Paddle to Seattle sparked new interest in learning and living the coastal culture among the Washington Tribes. The canoe journey focuses on discipline, cooperation and strength. The seagoing canoes are made from the trunk of a single cedar. Cedars are abundant on the coastal forests and the wood is strong, lightweight, buoyant and resistant to rot. The designs vary according to the purpose for the canoe and the environment in which they will be used. The end of the journey is a celebration of the tribe's connection to one another, their common ties, and their spiritual connection to the land and the water.