2023 Challenge Canoe Journey: Fostering Connection, Tradition, and Sustainability
Salish Sea, Washington - On July 11th, a group of 30 Indigenous paddlers embarked on a four-day, no-ground crew, canoe journey through the San Juan Islands. The journey commenced with three canoes, accompanied by four safety support boats, with representatives from six tribes, including Samish, Stillaguamish, Swinomish, Tulalip, Mitchell Bay Band, Hoopa Valley, and Coos Bay. This paddle challenged participants to travel with all of their supplies on the canoes - reducing their environmental impacts and traveling more closely to how their ancestors paddled.
The crews included 15 enthusiastic youths, six of them were under the age of 7, representing the continuation of ancestral traditions through inter-generational practices. Additionally, two Coast Salish Youth Stewardship Corps (CSYSC) alumni joined, bringing their expertise, enthusiasm, and passion to the event.
During the journey, the paddlers were treated to a delicious seafood boil on Shaw Island, where they engaged in lively and deep discussion with Friday Harbor Labs (FHL) eelgrass researchers and Washington State Department of Natural Resources representatives about the insections between eelgrass restoration and Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Notably, Coast Salish youth plan to harvest eelgrass seeds later this month which will be grown at FHL lab and used for a restoration planting next year.
As the canoe traveled through the Salish Sea, paddlers were treated to traditional foods. Handmade pemican, crafted by tribal youth and donated by the Indigenous Roots and Repatriation Foundation/Hearts Gathered, offered a taste of First Foods traditions. Emphasizing sustainability throughout, food waste was diligently collected at each stop and donated to local farmers, minimizing waste and reducing the environmental impact. Furthermore, all firewood used was locally sourced and burned responsibly.
Upon the final landing at Odlin Park on Lopez Island, Tribal elders, and the Lopez community warmly greeted the paddlers, culminating in a community potluck and protocol celebration. Through shared experiences, vibrant discussions, and celebration of traditional practices, this 2023 Challenge paddle canoe journey stands as a shining example of inter-tribal unity, cultural preservation, and environmental resilience. The CSYSC looks forward to next year!
This journey was coordinated by the Coast Salish Youth Stewardship Corps, an intertribal youth coalition dedicated to practicing enviro-cultural revitalization. This would not have been possible without the support and contributions from Northsound ACH, Inatai Foundation, Native FEWS Alliance, The Diversity Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and the San Juan License Plate Campaign, along with support from the Lopez Family Resource Center, Lopez Quakers, Port of Friday Harbor, and generous community donations.
To support events like these, donate to the Coast Salish Youth Stewardship Corps today.
