Canoe Journey 2007 Makes a Splash
By Becky Porter
The 2007 Canoe Journey began on Thursday night, July 18, 2007, at Squaxin Island. There were several legs of the journey with canoes traveling up Puget Sound, Hood’s Canal, up the Oregon and Washington coast and through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and down from the Bella Bella area in British Columbia. The Puget Sound and Hood’s Canal legs joined at Suquamish, and all the southern canoes joined at Mukilteo. The northern canoes joined at Lummi on July 30th after a long and difficult journey and shared the next several days with all the other canoe families. There was dancing and drumming, meals supplied by the Lummi Tribe, then the canoe families were honored with a potlatch hosted by the Lummi. It was reported in the local newspapers that thousands of blankets and other goods were gifted to the canoe families.
Each day the canoe families were given a set time that the canoes were to leave the beach. The canoes usually left with the tides. After a long day the paddlers pulled the canoes ashore; then, with the help of others, they carried the canoes up the beach so they were safe overnight. The next day they carried the canoes back down the beach to the water and stepped into the canoe at the direction of the skipper so the canoe was balanced and floated well.
The support crews, organized by Chief Cook, Shelly Schultz, sister-in-law to Mike Schultz and Patty Holyan, prepared nourishment for the next day’s paddlers late into the night, sometimes working after the paddlers went to their tents, then rising before the paddlers so hot food would be waiting for them to help them get through the day. Once the canoes left, the tents and other gear were packed up and the canoes and the support crew left to meet at the day’s destination. The canoes traveled by water, and the support crews by land to set up at the next camp site. If there was time after the support crews set up camp they would go to the canoe landing to support the paddlers as they were welcomed ashore.
The journey from Suquamish to Mukilteo was highlighted for the spaqwa (Blue Heron) support crew when the ferry their vehicles were on stopped during its voyage to honor the canoes and wait for some of the canoes to pass before continuing on to Edmonds. The landing at Mukilteo was emotional for some. It was the first time in over one hundred years that native canoes had landed on that beach! The Snohomish Tribe was well represented at this momentous event as our chairman, didahalqid (Mike Evans), skippered one of the Blue Heron family canoes to be welcomed ashore later that day.
A Day on the 2007 Canoe Journey, Paddle to Lummi
Canoes danced on the waves as seals poked their heads above the surface of the water to watch. Great Blue Herons flew overhead and seaweed floated past as the paddles dipped and sang to the sea. Eeshw. Eeeshw. Eeshw. The Blue Heron, spaqwa, and the Raven canoes glided in to Samish Bay after a three-and-a-half hour day on the water. The water was smooth and the canoes carried more than the usual complement of crew since it was a short day.
Mike Evans, didahalqid, guided the Blue Heron the 12 miles from Swinomish as the canoes went through the Swinomish Channel, under the Highway 20 bridge, past the refinery, to end their journey along with many other canoes. The skippers asked permission to land on Samish shores. As the canoes rounded the point where a pier at the refinery jutted into the water, a couple of men started yelling to the canoes. Initially their words couldn’t be heard so the assumption was that they were cheering the canoes on as so many others had along the beaches lining the Swinomish channel. As the canoes neared the area their words became audible. They were shouting at the canoes to stay away from the piers, referring to signs posted on the piers. The signs were not readily identifiable. After the canoes were welcomed ashore they were carried up the beach and over driftwood logs onto the grass to the beach above the high water mark. Then, many of the paddlers collapsed in relief onto the grass!
The Samish, like many of the other hosting tribes along the canoe journey, had a great feast ready soon after the last canoes were greeted. The delicacies included traditional foods like clams and mussels. After dinner the canoe families attended a gathering to celebrate the arrival of the canoes. The ground crew returned to camp to work late into the night preparing for the next day’s work.
Those who attended the gathering returned early in the morning, only to arise at 4:30am to begin a new day in the canoes and the last long pull to Lummi.
On a more personal note: I had the honor of accompanying the support crew for part of the journey. I began the journey with a lot of respect for those who undertake the challenge of making the journey. I ended the journey with much more respect and little awe for the paddlers and the support crew. I hope more people will join the canoe family in future journeys. Next year’s canoe journey will end on Vancouver Island and will be hosted by the Cowichan people along with the 2008 Indigenous Games.
The 10th Annual Powwow Date is Set!
We are already off and running with plans for our 10th Annual Powwow held at Fort Flagler State Park on Marrowstone Island for the weekend of August 15, 16 & 17, 2008. Twenty-one campsites have been reserved and we are ready to take your reservations to join us in some fun, good food and culture. Standard campsites are $45.00 and many of these have been reserved for our members/friends on the back loop of the campground. There are only 3 sites with electric hookup and of those, one is ADA. Please contact Mike Schultz at vicechair@snohomishtribe.com or leave a message on the voice mail at 425-744-1855. As in the past, you are always welcome to just come for the day (Saturday the 16th) when most of the activities are planned. We have received a generous in-kind donation for 3 day’s use of the picnic area this year. Again this year we will feature alder-smoked salmon, a potluck lunch, elder and children’s activities. Don’t miss this exciting celebration and don’t forget to bring a friend! More details to come.
Tribe’s Oldest Member Passes
Josephine Yarr
Sept. 14,1904 - Dec. 10, 2007
Josephine Yarr died at Jefferson Healthcare hospital in Port Townsend at age 103. Her obituary will be published at a later date.
Services were held at St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, in Port Townsend with Mass of Christian Burial following on September 17. 2007.
Interment was held at Greenwood Cemetery, Chimacum with a reception following the graveside committal.
Kosec Funeral Home, Port Townsend, was in charge of arrangements.
Veterans Spotlighted at the 2007 Powwow!
A recognition ceremony was held for all military veterans who attended the powwow this year and on behalf of those not in attendance or who have passed on. The veterans were presented with a special gift received from the Veterans of the Puyallup Tribe earlier this year. The gift was an American flag in a beautiful wood and glass case with an engraved brass plaque. A display of names of all of our members/spouses who have served in the military was proudly displayed at the powwow. Our Service Record list includes Joel B. Christoe, Robert G. Cox, Michael D. Schultz, Everette Sprague, Jr., Douglas Wilkins, George F. Woodley, Sr., George F. Woodley, Jr., George F. Woodley, Vise., Jackie J. Woodley, George Johnson, William Johnson, Suzzaloo Johnson, Francis Johnson, Ronald L. Porter, Jack Guske, Tom Guske, Theodore Lowell, Paul Schliesman, Meral L.Ellingsworth, Larry L. Lutz, Captain Leonard J. Challain, Robert F. Woodley, Matthew Missel, Virgil Porter, Richard Porter, Robert Porter, Nancy McDaniel, Jeff Schultz, Kevin Wood, Clifford Carl Allen, Karlyn Roff.
To be included on our Service Record please contact Bob Cox at Councilposition5@snohomishtribe.com or info@snohomishtribe.com
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
Many members have either written in or called asking about other family members and their whereabouts. Due to confidentiality and privacy rules, the enrollment secretary is unable to give out that information without prior permission from each member. Please know that your contact information or contact information for your family will never be released without your permission. In addition, some members may not want to be found and we will respect that, also!
If you are interested in getting in touch with long-lost family members let the enrollment secretary know. She can then contact whomever you are looking for and get their permission to give you a phone number or an address. At that time you will be able to make contact on your own. In the meantime, make sure the enrollment secretary has current contact information for YOU and think about making a donation to help off-set the postage and telephone costs for the time spent on your behalf. You may be surprised to find out who shows up to the powwow hoping to connect with you, also! Plan to attend this year’s powwow.
Another way to get the word out that you are searching for others is to write an article for the newsletter with your request—we currently send approximately 700 newsletters to heads of households all over the United States and many in Canada representing each one of the ancestral family names in our tribe.
Email the enrollment secretary (Keral Rehn) at info@snohomishtribe with your request or call the voice mail at 424-744-1855.
WELCOME NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS!
Three new council members were voted into office during the 2007 Annual Meeting held at Floral Hall in Forest Park (Everett, WA) in September. Mina Staehler, Jonathan Seeber and Birdie Willard were later sworn in (in accordance with the Constitution) at the October 21st council meeting in Edmonds, WA.