“It’s definitely a powerful journey. In the sharing, the coming together, people are starting to stand up and show who they are. Our culture was almost lost due to laws that were put on us in our history, but this is a revival. It’s grown to mega proportions and it’s brought culture back to a lot of the villages where culture was lost.”

That was Gary Manson speaking to the Sentinel in 2014 about the Tribal Journey when more than a dozen canoes landed at Newcastle Island in Nanaimo harbour on the long trip to Bella Bella.

This year, Manson was the skipper of the Manu canoe from Snuneymuxw that set off in mid-July for Nisqually on the southern end of Puget Sound for the annual canoe journey.

Other Vancouver Island canoes – including others from T’Sou-ke First Nation and Kw’umut Lelum Child and Family Services – made the crossing over the Strait of Juan de Fuca. They joined others from around the Olympic Peninsula at Port Angeles or at Lummi Nation near Bellingham before continuing the journey south.

The Paddle to Nisqually ended at the Port of Olympia on July 30. The theme for this year’s event was ‘Don’t forget the water’.

Whale and wolf

Artist Fred Anderson Jr painted the Manson canoe from Snuneymuxw. He had this to say on Facebook about his work:

“I was honoured my brother Gary Manson and Donna Manson asked me to prepare their canoe for its journey to USA. I painted a killer whale and a wolf to bless the journey and to journey with pride.

“Known Gary and Donna for over 30 years and was a labour of love and respect.

“Was a lot of fun working on and maybe next time, like the other five I have done, they will come to me a month or two earlier so I can take my time, not five days before, LOL!”

About Gary and Donna, Fred wrote:

“Our Creator has brought us together several times and they have helped me here in Nanaimo a few times that shaped my character and is why I said I will do this for them. Being connected to his family with Dean Manson, Emmy Manson and

Lea-lah Manson, who have all played a role in my recovery… I suppose now my extended family. Much love and respect.”

Journey is essential

Kw’umut Lelum executive director Bill Yoachim was clear about the importance of the Tribal Journey for participants as the organization’s canoe set off on the Paddle to Nisqually.

“The Tribal Journeys continue to be an essential way of strengthening connections, maintaining health and wellness and keeping our young Coast Salish mustimuxw (people) rooted in Snuw’uy’ulh (teachings),” he said.

“Our Kw’umut Lelum canoe family has worked hard preparing for this year’s journey, training and paddling as well as stripping cedar, weaving hats, and making new shawls for traditional Coast Salish protocol.

“The team will immerse themselves in a three-week cultural journey to Nisqually as they are guided by our elders through the highways of our ancestors.”