And down the home stretch they come.
With Neah Bay nearly in their sights, hundreds of tribal members will enter Clallam County waters today for the 2010 Tribal Canoe Journey’s final push to the Makah.
Tribes from the Puget Sound, east Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland will arrive at Jamestown Beach from Port Townsend between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. today, Jamestown S’Klallam tribal secretary Anika Kessler said.
“It could be earlier than that,” she added.
The contingent of canoes, estimated at about 40, will arrive at Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles at about noon Friday, Lower Elwha Tribal Chairwoman Frances Charles said.
Two dozen other canoes from west Vancouver Island and the Victoria area will cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca and join the inland tribes for the protocol landing in Port Angeles on Friday.
After two days of celebration at the Lower Elwha Tribal Center, the pullers will leave Port Angeles early Sunday, spend the night at Pillar Point and arrive at their final destination in Neah Bay on Monday.
Crews to land
Tribes from Washington’s outer coast, including the Hoh — which will land at LaPush on Friday — and the Quileute, also are expected to arrive at Neah Bay on Monday.
The Makah will host an estimated 10,000 people in a six-day cultural celebration.
Events will be open to the public throughout the entire week, said Crystal Denney, Makah Tribal Journeys coordinator.
Tribal protocol, featuring dancing, singing and storytelling from each of the canoe families, is planned from 10 a.m. to midnight in a big tent on the Neah Bay High School football field.
Youth activites are planned in a new gymnasium near Washburn’s Grocery and a Bayview Avenue street fair will have at least 82 venders, said Crystal Denney, Makah Tribal Journeys coordinator.
Several parking lots and camping areas have been prepared for visitors, Denney said, and the beach has been prepared with extra logs for seating.
Annual journey
A different tribe hosts Tribal Canoe Journey every year. The Lower Elwha hosted it in 2005 — the only other time it was centered on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Denney said the canoe landings on Monday will happen any time between noon and 6 p.m.
“It all depends on what time they leave, how the tides are, how the weather is,” Denney said.
“It’s kind of a hurry-up-and-wait situation.”
Each canoe team will ask the host tribe for permission to land before pulling to shore in the protocol tradition.
Crews will try to avoid paddling against the tide.
Jamestown landing
For the Jamestown landing today, there will be a minus tide at Dungeness Bay today at 12:31 p.m. High tide happens at 7:52 p.m.
Low tide is at 1:18 p.m. on Friday with a high tide at 8:26 p.m.
While the landings are open to the public, today’s 5 p.m. dinner and protocol at Sequim High School is reserved for tribal canoe families, Kessler said.
To get to the landing site at Jamestown Beach, drive north from Sequim along Sequim-Dungeness Way and make a right at Jamestown Road.
Parking is limited at the beach. The tribe is asking the public to not park on the road.
The public can park at 1272 Jamestown Road, Kessler said.
On Friday, after landing at Hollywood Beach in front of the Port Angeles CrabHouse Restaurant, canoe pullers will be shuttled to the Lower Elwha tribal center for a dinner and protocol dancing.
Breakfasts will be provided to the canoe teams.
The public is invited to attend the protocol dances at the Lower Elwha.
Charles said she would have a better sense of the landing schedule as the event draws closer.
“It really fluctuates,” Charles said.
The tribe is seeking volunteers to help in the kitchen. Anyone interested in volunteering can phone the Lower Elwha tribe at 360-452-8471.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.