The Landing - Paddle to Quw'utsun 2008

Tribal Journeys

On July 28, as part of Tribal Journeys 2008, Cowichan will host over 100 canoes, some of them coming from as far away as Northern Alaska, Washington and Oregon, as well as many BC Coastal Nations. Some of the canoes will have been on the water for 2 weeks prior to July 28th, which is Landing Day.

Dates, Routes and details of the Journeys and their landings are available on the Routes page.

The Landing Day for Tribal Journeys marks a historical moment for each tribe or nation that hosts the canoes and welcomes them into their territory.

Many months of planning, visiting and inviting to prepare for the people are part of the preliminary plans. It is said that once a nation stands up to invite the guests to their territory for the next gathering, the spirit of the canoe is already in motion.

Last year’s Tribal Journey was hosted in Lummi, and their theme was “Travelling the Highways of our Ancestors” and that is exactly what Tribal Journeys is all about. We join in along a collective motion of canoes making its way towards the host, the canoe fleets getting larger and larger and the days go by, and family ties and friendships are strengthened. It is an honour to know that you are a part of something that was perhaps more commonplace long ago, but that is still alive and well. With this annual symbolic journey, we are carrying on the teachings and traditional ways of our nations and paying tribute to our ancestors who travelled before us.

Excitement picks up along the way, and the closer you get to the landing site, the more exciting it becomes! You know you will be seeing your friends and relatives from the four directions, and look forward to visiting, breaking bread together and sharing the many experiences and joys that the journey brought to you along the way.

When the canoes are ready to come into the landing, the paddlers get themselves prepared and don their traditional regalia--the attire, the masks, the drums and rattles all ready for the grand entrance.

The canoes will come in to the bay one in front of the other forming a big circle, paddling by the host dignitaries and spectators, with a cheering crowd! Once the circle is completed, the canoes will raft up side by side at the shore line, and each canoe shall have their historical moment in time to introduce themselves, their canoe and where they are from, and let the host know they have honored the invitation and have pulled many miles.

Once this introduction has been made, they ask the host permission to come ashore. The host then does a ‘response’ and give the permission to that canoe fleet, who then in a victorious movement, makes their way to shore. This same process occurs to each canoe fleet until all canoes are invited ashore.

This is quite the spectacular beginning to an eagerly anticipated good time of song, dance and cultural sharing in the host community. All are welcome and many hands are needed to help deliver a successful gathering.

When the canoes touch the shore of the hosted community, it is joyous, respected and valued as we do understand the significance of the history we make with each host community. Each canoe brings gifts of songs, dances, and people. Each canoe brings a medicine to the host, and the ancestors are with all of us every stroke of the way, as well as on shore guiding us. And thus it begins where it left off.