Pullers from dozens of Pacific Northwest tribes and Canadian first nations are preparing their canoes for the 2011 Tribal Canoe Journey this month.
The annual voyage through the Salish Sea is a cultural celebration of traditional song, dance and storytelling.
It involves tribes from the North Olympic Peninsula, Puget Sound, Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland.
Pullers will embark from their own shores and make daily stops at other tribes.
Each landing involves the traditional protocol, where the visiting pullers ask the host tribe for permission to land.
This year’s journey culminates with a inter-tribal celebration at the Swinomish tribe in La Conner on July 25.
Last year, the Makah hosted the main event. Close to 10,000 tribal members from about 50 tribes turned out for six days of festivities in Neah Bay.
Dates for the landings are subject to change.
It is not uncommon for tribes to tow their canoes to the next destination if the weather is bad or the tides are unfavorable.
Barring changes to schedule, pullers from four coastal tribes will arrive in LaPush on Tuesday to celebrate with the Quileute.
There will be dinner, singing and dancing, tribal spokeswoman Jackie Jacobs said.
The Quileute will have three canoes in the 2011 Tribal Canoe Journey.
“The annual gathering has been very empowering for our community, our neighboring tribes and our youth,” said Bonita Cleveland, Quileute Tribal Council chairwoman.
“Quileute people have always been ocean-going people, and the strength and skills that are a part of tribal journey and complement our ocean traditions also serve to further empower all who participate in this event,” she said.
“Our culture respects the ocean and all that it provides us, and those values are important on and off the water.”
The coastal tribes will stay in LaPush for the Quileute Days celebration Friday through Sunday.
“The canoes that are landing that will be joining us for Quileute Days are Hoh, Quinault, Queets and Grand Ronde,” Jacobs said.
Meanwhile, Makah canoes will embark from Neah Bay on Friday for a two-day pull for Port Angeles.
The Makah are scheduled to reach Pillar Point on Saturday and arrive in Port Angeles with the rest of the tribes on Sunday.
The Lower Elwha Klallam is hosting several tribes from Washington state, western Vancouver Island and the Victoria area.
The pullers from Canada will cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca on Sunday.
“The canoes will be landing at Hollywood Beach,” said Brenda Charles, Lower Elwha Klallam tribal spokeswoman.
Pullers and their support teams will leave their canoes on the shore and make the short drive to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Center for dinner and an evening of singing, dancing and storytelling
“The were some tribes that were hoping that we would be hosting for two days,” Charles said.
“It’s usually two days.”
The Lower Elwha Klallam tribe was the main host of the 2005 journey.
A week from Monday, on July 18, the fleet will leave Hollywood Beach and paddle along the southern Strait to the Jamestown Beach where they will be welcomed by the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe in Blyn and have a one-night stopover.
The canoes will land at Port Townsend’s Fort Worden State Park on July 19.
The three S’Klallam bands will welcome the canoes and paddlers in Port Townsend.
Pullers will make their way to Port Gamble S’Klallam July 20, Suquamish on July 21, Tulalip on July 23, Cama Beach on July 24 and arrive in Swinomish on July 25.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
