By Shaun Scott, Puyallup Tribal News
Nearly 100 Tribal Members gathered near the shores of the Hylebos Waterway at the Tribe’s Canoe Landing site on April 13 for this year’s Canoe Awakening.
Cultural Center Assistant Director Clinton McCloud was on the mic for the majority of the day, sharing his insight and calling witnesses to speak in front of the crowd for the occasion. A large number of dancers spanning all ages and generations brushed cedar across the canoe, making four laps around it to prepare the canoe to be on the water this spring and summer.
Today, canoes are stored for the winter, but in the past, they were the primary mode of transportation throughout the entire year and were never put away. Waking up the canoes in the spring is something Cultural Coordinator Victoria Horrell said is part of the yearly routine.
“After putting our canoes to sleep for the winter, we bring her out in the spring. Today is our first canoe practice so we need to wake up our canoe,” Horrell said. “We will brush her inside and out, and in a good way we will wake her up and put her in the water.”
Cultural Director Angie Totus was one of the first individuals to arrive on site on Marine View Drive and said the Canoe Awakening signifies the beginning of a new year every spring.
“We’re blessing the canoe so when they paddle these waters they will have safe travels. It is a tradition that will always be carried on. It is truly a blessing to be part of today’s event,” Totus said.
Heritage Division Manager Connie McCloud spoke and reflected on the history of the canoe.
“I shared the history because we have a lot of new people here. We really had humble beginnings. We traveled with people who taught us, welcomed us, guided us and directed us. Without that we wouldn’t be where we are today,” McCloud said. “We’re continually teaching. It isn’t a negative to teach and it isn’t a negative not to know, it is how we grew and how we learn. We continue to teach because it will be our young people who will take things over as we hand things down to them.”
