By Hailey Palmer, Puyallup Tribal News
After a little more than two weeks of cultural sharing, ancestral travel and celebration, Power Paddle to Puyallup Youth Canoe Journey 2024 came to an end Aug. 5 with the Puyallup Canoe Family taking the floor at Protocol.
The Puyallup Canoe Family was joined on the floor by the swaq’ʷsəb and Chief Leschi Schools canoe families.
The official landing at dxʷɫalilali (place to come ashore) on the Puyallup Reservation took place July 31 with more than 70 traditional canoes coming from as far as Hawaii seeking permission to come ashore.
Members of Puyallup Tribal Council, Heritage Division Manager Connie McCloud and Puyallup youth each took turns granting permission to the visiting canoe families. Puyallup Tribal Language Teacher Chris Briden also helped greet canoes in Twulshootseed.
“Our youth have a tough time now. We’re trying to bring them into the fold,” Puyallup Tribal Council Chairman Bill Sterud said on landing day. “Thank you to all the Elders and parents who are doing their best to take care of their youth. … This is part of that care, part of that journey and part of this education on how to live, how to be and how to be proud. … Think of our mountain, think of our waters, think of our air, the clouds. It’s all our reservation here, this is our homeland. We have one homeland and this is it.”
The Puyallup Canoe Family’s journey started in Squamish, British Columbia, July 19.
In the days leading up to the Puyallup Canoe Family taking the floor at Protocol, haʔɫidup ʔə ʔalalus ʔə ʔaciɫtalbixʷ (nice piece of land for the traditions and customs of the first people), the Tribe’s 72nd Street property, hosted each visiting Tribe with meals, vendors, information booths, entertainment and Indigenous Youth Games put on by the Indigenous Leadership Academy PNW.
Puyallup Tribal youth assisted the emcees in working the floor as canoe families went up during the week. Most of them spoke in Lushootseed.
Che Ortiz Conway, a youth speaker for the Chief Leschi Canoe Family and Puyallup Royalty, said his favorite part of journeys is spending time with his family and learning more about Coast Salish culture.
“It’s important to me because there’s not a lot of kids that do this,” he said. “I’m from the city, so, I choose to do this because kids like to drink, smoke and do all that, and I like to learn about the culture more. … Going to ceremonies and going to these things will take you a long way in life.”
Naiyeli Cruz-Garcia, also Puyallup Royalty and a youth speaker for the Puyallup Canoe Family, said Canoe Journey is a way for her to connect with her ancestors.
“We’re on our ancestral waterways as we’re traveling and we’re very connected,” Cruz-Garcia said.
Puyallup Tribal Council and Puyallup youth spoke during the Canoe Family’s time on the floor Aug. 5, thanking anyone who traveled to be there with them and share their culture.
Here is an excerpt of what each Tribal Council Member said at Protocol:
Vice Chairwoman Sylvia Miller
“I have never been so proud of this Tribe and these canoe paddlers as I have now. It warms my heart. We’ve been on many, many journeys, and this is one of the most amazing ones – to watch our children, our future. It’s really, really important that we always honor our children. If it wasn’t for our children, we would have no future, so it’s really important that we teach them the right way. Each and every one of you guys have made all of us proud. I want to give thanks to Connie (McCloud), all of Connie’s staff, all of our Culture Program, Chester (Earl’s) program, all of our volunteers, all of the cooks for making this happen in such a short time.”
Annette Bryan
“This journey was really, really special because it focused on the youth. … All the Tribes that are here, I want to thank you for sharing of your losses, your grief, your happiness, your celebrations, your sicknesses and your healing. … I’ve been doing these journeys for a long time and I’ve learned a lot. … The thing I want to say to the youth is these drums – the paddle on the water, the drumbeat in your heart – no matter what you go through in your life you will come back to that. … We just love you guys so much and thank you for everything you’ve done.”
James Rideout
“We have amazing programs who stepped up here at the drop of a dime and dropped everything to make sure that they were accommodating for the children. This is the best journey I have ever seen. … The teachings are here and it’s happening right in front of our eyes for our Elders. I’m grateful for that because I want everybody to continue to learn in every way possible. It’s tough for our Indian people and Indian children – they have to live in two worlds. … On Canoe Journey they say kids are the future. They were there, now, right in front of us.”
Anna Bean
“I want to speak to all of the canoe families that made their way to Power Paddle Youth Journey 2024. Thank you to each carver who put those prayers and love into your canoes and paddles. Thank you to each one of your seamstresses, beaders and weavers who made your beautiful regalia that graced the floors of Puyallup. … We are Native people, we are still here and it is a beautiful thing to be in your presence. … I’ve been so blessed to watch the journey of our youth taking leadership roles this week from every one of our Nations, and I look forward to watching the Puyallup youth take the floor.”
Monica Miller
“I want to say thank you to the youth – you guys did a wonderful job, not only with your paddling on the canoes, but with your language and all your teachings, and stepping up and being leaders. You’re in my heart, all of you this whole week and a half. … I want to give a shout out to our cooks and our volunteers. … Some have been working double shifts. … I want to give a shout out to those volunteers, our security, our cooks, everybody that helped out during this journey. … This was wonderful, was it not? I want to thank all of you for being here.”
