By Shaun Scott, Puyallup Tribal News
Gratitude was the theme permeating Winner’s Gymnasium during the Our Sacred Youth Appreciation Dinner on Dec. 17 in Tacoma.
The event, which was put together by the Puyallup Tribe Culture Department, honored and recognized all individuals who helped with the Power Paddle to Puyallup Youth Canoe Journey 2024 that took place this past summer.
The dinner portion of the event consisted of a mouthwatering feast including salmon, crabs, meat, potatoes, spaghetti, corn, clams, dinner rolls and cake. The cooks made an ample amount of food as many individuals were able to return for second helpings of dinner.
Heritage Division Manager Connie McCloud and former Puyallup Tribal Council Chairman David Bean were front and center for the majority of the evening with a paper and microphone in hand, rattling off names and thanking them for making the Youth Canoe Journey a memorable success. Every person who was thanked walked away with a gift in hand. A multitude of blankets and drum bags were doled out to the large contingent of attendees. The evening concluded with Elders being invited to the front to pick up gifts available, as well.
Puyallup Tribal Councilwoman Anna Bean credited McCloud for making the Youth Canoe Journey a reality. Originally, another Tribe was slated to host, but when those plans fell through, the Puyallup Tribe rose to the occasion.
“I remember I was on the phone with Connie and she said, ‘What if we hosted a youth journey?’” Bean said. “I was like, ‘Yes!’ It was going to be great for our kids, our families and our community. Canoe Journey is such a healing time. On top of that, it was going to be a youth journey, and that meant it was going to be youth-led.”
Seeing the young members of the Puyallup Tribe thrive and displaying their leadership qualities meant everything to Bean.
“The youth were leading in house when we hosted. They were welcoming all the families to the floor, they were constantly engaged, they were seen and they were heard,” Bean said with pride. “That was empowering because you’re only as good as what you are giving to your people. We’re seeing what we have coming up with these youth. It was so amazing and powerful to see that. The canoe journey was amazing. This one was just incredibly special because it just wasn’t Puyallup’s youth, it was all of these canoe families, and many of them had first-time speakers and were speaking to an entire room. Watching them rise up was absolutely amazing. It will be memorable for my entire life.”
Tribal Member Marti Hilyard gave the blessing and prayer before dinner was served. Hilyard was visibly emotional when describing what these types of events mean to her. She said nights like the dinner are sacred.
“It allows us to keep the goodness and the ways of being for our Tribe, for our people, for our children and for the waterways that we have. We are blessed so much, and it’s really important to know that we are blessed,” Hilyard said.
Julio McCloud, Connie’s son, works the front desk at the Winner’s Gym for the Tribe’s Security Department. Julio could feel the emotions welling up within him as the festivities occurred throughout the duration of the three-hour event.
“The pride in my heart is unexplainable,” Julio said as he motioned toward the left side of his chest. “To watch it grow and grow over the years is overwhelming. To see that it’s getting bigger and bigger just warms my heart.”
Puyallup Tribal Language Department Teacher Chris Briden wasn’t going to miss out on the opportunity to attend the festivities.
“The Canoe Journey is an expression of our culture. It is something that we really had to fight to get back. It was literally taken away from us,” Briden said. “The fact our Culture Department was able to bring it back to our whole community is amazing and needs to be celebrated. I’m here to respect them and honor them.”
Puyallup Tribe Culture Department Assistant Director Clinton McCloud said the Tribe is currently experiencing a culture explosion, where youth are embracing their past and are completely connected and engaged with their culture.
“When you look back to 20 years ago, things weren’t happening like this. Now, we have a generation that has been able to grow up in this cultural explosion. It’s a whole different ball of wax for these younger folks. I’m 49 and we just didn’t have access to things like this when we were younger,” Clinton said. “Our children nowadays are growing up in a time where their songs are right there, their canoes are on the water. They’re not going to grow up in a time where it’s not there. We get to celebrate the fact that we’re strong in this right here.”
