This year tribal journey begins here in the territory. On July 16th we welcome our relatives from Klahoose and Homalco at Lund, and on July 17th we paddle together from Lund to Tla’amin. From there the canoes head south through the Salish Sea, with the full route running July 18th to 31st and Protocol hosted by the Nisqually Tribe in Washington State from August 1st to 3rd.
The Nation is supporting the journey in two ways.
This year’s journey falls into two parts, and the Nation is supporting each one differently.
The first leg, on the Canadian side, runs from Lund to Tsawwassen, July 16th to 21st. Tla’amin Nation is fully supporting this leg, including support boat, safety advisor, youth chaperones, and other crew keeping everyone safe and organized on the water and on shore.
The second leg, on the American side is being led by the Northern Salish canoe family and is not an activity organized, staffed, or supervised by the Nation.
A sizeable group of pullers want to carry the journey through to the end, and the Nation is supporting that through a financial grant to the Northern Salish canoe family of Tla’amin, Klahoose, and Homalco. This grant helps our Tla’amin pullers join forces with our sister Nations and finish the journey together as one canoe family.
Crossing the US international border carries real considerations. Entry into the United States is decided by US border officials, and admission is never guaranteed for any traveller. Everyone continuing past Tsawwassen is responsible for their own valid travel documents, their own medical and travel insurance, and their own arrangements at the border, including being aware of the rules around medications crossing into the United States. Anyone who crosses the border and continues to Nisqually does so on their own behalf and at their own responsibility. The Nation’s grant supports the journey, but the journey across the border is the canoe family’s own undertaking.
The full route
July 16th: Tla’amin welcomes Klahoose and Homalco at Lund
July 17th: Lund to Tla’amin
July 18th: Tla’amin to Saltery Bay
July 19th: Saltery Bay to Shishalh
July 20th: Shishalh to Ambleside Beach (Squamish Nation)
July 21st: Ambleside Beach to Tsawwassen
July 22nd: Tsawwassen to Birch Bay (Nooksack Tribe)
July 23rd: Birch Bay to Lummi
July 24th: Lummi to Samish
July 25th: Samish to Swinomish
July 26th: Swinomish to Tulalip
July 27th: Tulalip to Suquamish
July 28th: Break Day in Suquamish
July 29th: Suquamish to Alki Beach (Muckleshoot)
July 30th: Alki Beach to Puyallup
July 31st: Puyallup to Nisqually
August 1st – 3rd – Protocol at Nisqually
We are proud this year that the journey begins in our own waters and that our paddlers will carry Tla’amin all the way to Nisqually. Watch for more updates as departure approaches and join us at Lund and Tla’amin on July 16th and 17th to send our jehjeh off in a good way.
Canoe practice this Wednesday July 1st at Gibsons Beach 6:00 PM
Contact Drew.Blaney@tn-bc.ca for more information.