Canoe Journey 2016: Paddle to Nisqually

A special thank you to Adams Natural for supporting our PNW outdoor journeys this summer.

This year our canoe family traveled to Nisqually for the 2016 annual canoe journey. We love our experience with the Canoe Journey. It brings together natives and non-natives with a common goal of providing a drug and alcohol free event. Plus, it offers pullers a chance to take a personal journey towards healing and recovery of culture, traditional knowledge and spirituality.

Paddle to Nisqually 2016 Map with Stops

Our canoe family, the Salmon Dancer, started paddling in Samish on July 21. That day was a three hour canoe pull from Samish to Swinomish. That was the day, and is usually the day that I paddle on the Salmon Dancer. The other days, I drive my mom or other paddlers to and fro and help with set up and food prep.

The weather started out cool for the beginning of our journey. The evening of that first day, my hands and wrists were so sore. I think I was gripping the paddle way to hard for three hours. It was a great day to pull canoe though with my sister.

Swinomish to Tulalip was the next canoe pull. That’s a long one. I drove down to pick up the paddlers that day. But, it was a beautiful sunny day after the fog lifted. It was so foggy in the morning (they had to leave by 6am), that our support boat couldn’t even see them at times.

Suquamish was the next step. That required a ferry ride for the support crew. My sister and skipped that day so we could attend an Adele Concert at the Key Arena. Not much takes my sister away from the Canoe Journey, but Adele in Seattle easily did.

The next leg of Paddle to Nisqually was Suquamish to Muckleshoot. That was the day the kids and I decided to start camping. The other parts of the journey were easy to drive to and home from. It is nice to be able to sleep in your own bed on Canoe Journey. Camping with thousands of other canoe families can be loud at night!

On a side note, did you know that Adams Natural is celebrating their 100 year anniversary this summer. To celebrate they are encouraging people to get outside these 100 days of summer. In fact, they even sent me a stack of coupons to hand out on the Canoe Journey. I was able to spread the love this summer in a fun way. And who doesn’t love peanut butter. {I love supporting local great companies!}

The Muckleshoot Tribe had their landing at Alki Beach in West Seattle. It was a beutiful day. I love seeing the Washington State Ferry boats driving by. Parking was very difficult at this stop. The kids and I had to walk pretty far to meet our family canoe. But we made it, literally just in time to welcome them in.

The final stop on our canoe journey this year was of course Nisqually. We landed in the Port of Olympia. Our support crew family arrived early, parked far, and rode a bus down to the port. We snagged a great seat and waited patiently for the almost 100 canoes to land. It was worth the wait!

Canoe Journey History

Canoe Journey 2016, Paddle to Nisqually, continues an inter-tribal celebration and annual gathering of Northwest indigenous nations. The annual tribal journey in the Pacific Northwest region was sparked by the Paddle to Seattle in 1989 as part of Washington State’s Centennial celebration. Over 20 Canoe Journeys have been held since 1993, when pullers (the preferred term because of the pulling motion on the paddle) from Canada, Alaska and Washington voyaged from their home communities to Bella Bella, B.C. The Canoe Journey has grown to include over 100 canoes and the participation of Canoe Families from other native canoe cultures, including Native American tribes, First Nations peoples, Alaska Natives, Inuit, Maori, Native Hawaiians, and other indigenous peoples from across the world.

Canoe Journey gatherings are rich in meaning and cultural significance. Canoe families travel great distances as their ancestors did and participating in the journey requires physical and spiritual discipline. At each stop, canoe families follow certain protocols, they ask for permission to come ashore, often in their native languages. At night in longhouses there is gifting, honoring and the sharing of traditional prayers, drumming, songs and dances. Meals, including evening dinners of traditional foods, are provided by the host nations. source

 

 

About Adams Peanut Butter

Growing up in Washington state, my family has been fans of Adams Peanut Butter since I was a child. I can remember stirring the oil into the jar 25+ years ago. Now, I buy the organic version for my kids. Adams Peanut Butter is celebrating its 100 year anniversary this year! Embrace the Pacific Northwest spirit, get outside, and snap some photos. Give them a shout out on social media and tag them at #AdamsNatural.

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