TFNwelcomesTribalJourneycanoes

On Friday, July 21, Members of Tsawwassen

First Nation and staff welcomed canoes at the Tsawwassen Beach house post as part of the 2023 Tribal Journey “Paddle to Muckleshoot 2023 –

Honouring Warriors Past and Present” .

This year ’ s journey, which is the first Tribal Journey since 2019, included canoes from across the Pacific Northwest who are travelling various routes to converge at the Muckelshoot Nation in Washington State on July 30.

The annual journey celebrates the ongoing First Nation tradition of travelling to different communities and provides physical, cultural, and spiritual benefits to everyone who participates, including paddlers, support crews, and those who gather to welcome paddlers as they land

The Tsawwassen community has traditionally been a host community to other nations, and TFN

Chief sxwamisaat (Laura Cassidy) carried on that tradition by welcoming all canoe families to Tsawwassen Lands

TFN members

Wopeeoh (Frank Campbell) and Angeline Splockton sang a welcome song to welcome the canoe families: Cheechlem

Chi-Chia – Dancing Grandmother (Tla’amin);

Ohtaqken – Our Way of Life (Tla’amin);

Hehewshin – Moving Forward (Tla’amin);

Sisele (Sta’ailes);

Seela (Sta’ailes); the Pil’ alt Canoe Family (Chilliwack); and the Three Sisters Canoe

Family (Chilliwack).

In keeping with the traditional ceremonial protocol, each nation asked permission to land, and TFN Executive Coun Hal quam a tia (Louise Ahlm) gave permission to each canoe family to come ashore to rest, share a meal, and share their great medicine of songs and dances back at the Tsawwassen First Nation Longhouse Executive Coun Chemkwaat (Valerie Cross) spoke on TFN’s behalf with a good mind and a good heart throughout the event.

The evening ended with a closing song for their safe travels on the rest of the journey aht (Loretta Williams) and TFN members

On Saturday, July 22, each canoe family was given permission to depart the territory by TFN Elder ah.sul.ten.

Connie Adams and Terri Splockton sang as they continued with their journey onto Birch Bay

To find out more about the 2023 Tribal Journey see: https://muckleshootcanoejourney com/

-Submitted by TFN

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