Tribal canoes from across the Salish Sea region landed ashore as part of the annual tribal canoe journeys, welcomed with song, ceremony and community.
A final celebration tomorrow will mark the end of this year’s Salish Sea Paddle to Elwha tribal canoe journeys.
Every canoe journey involves a spiderweb of logistical decisions and challenges, but this year was unique yet.
The last days of travel were put into jeopardy July 29 by an 8.8 earthquake on the Kamchatka Peninsula, just east of the Aleutian Island chain of Alaska. Tribal canoes were still en route on the Salish Sea and the Pacific when tsunami warnings were issued down the coast as far as Hawaii. This was a first-time event for the canoe journeys.
Lummi and Nooksack groups, along with several other tribes, got to Port Townsend ahead of the predicted sea rise and, with the help of volunteers, were able to get their canoes moved to higher ground for safety. Amid a flurry of social media messages from worried families back home, Lummi Communications and the Nooksack Indian Tribe Communications Page posted official updates confirming everyone was safe.
“Our hands are raised to them for their strength, preparedness and care for one another,” concluded the message from Nooksack.
Although the ocean level rise along the Olympic Peninsula was minimal, and tsunami warnings were lifted Wednesday, associated strong currents made the going treacherous, especially for the groups coming east from Neah Bay. The Makah stayed off the water on July 30, and some groups decided to trailer their canoes for the final leg of the journey to Elwha.
The traditional voyage culminates in a large gathering called a potlatch, where tribal families share in song, dance, gift-giving, food and community. For 2025, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe hosted the tribal canoe journeys, welcoming over 40 tribal nations in Port Angeles on July 31.
Along the Salish Sea, canoe families rested at tribal territories throughout Whatcom and Skagit counties, including stops at the Nooksack, Lummi and Samish reservations.
Before they may land, canoe families must request permission to come ashore.
“Good to see the tradition and culture,” said Jaime Hemmings, a first-time canoe puller. “I’m just honored to be a part of it.”
Hemmings said he helped pull out about 10 canoes from the water and carry them up to the beach.
“A canoe journey is a type of cultural healing,” said Amy Nichols, a member of the Samish Indian Nation.
Indigenous cultural and spiritual gatherings were outlawed under the potlatch ban in 1886, which remained in effect until 1951. When canoe journeys resumed in 1989 with the Paddle to Seattle, Nichols said it became a form of reclamation for tribal communities to relearn how to make a dugout canoe in the traditional way.
“It’s a really powerful journey that takes place over a few weeks,” said Nichols. “But those few weeks are just so impactful on everyone who participates.”
“It’s very moving. It’s so wonderful to see the culture thriving,” said Peggy Woods, a volunteer for the Paddle to Elwha Canoe Journey. “When they sing, the first time I hear them it always chokes me up.”
“It’s a really nice experience for everyone to keep knowledge about our culture and our heritage,” said Robin Schwindt, a canoe puller. “To be able to keep doing canoe journeys and learning about our paths and keeping all of our traditions alive is really important.”
Schwindt said that her family has been a part of the canoe journeys since 2009, and that the tradition has kept friends and family together. She also added that she’s been pulling her family canoe for about 16 years.
“Some days are harder than others,” said Schwindt. “But I’ve always loved the experience and it’s never a bad day on the water.”
— By Ronan Lynch; Lane Morgan contributed to this story
Also read in Salish Current:
• “Final landing at Elwha brings challenges,” Aug. 6, 2025
• “Canoe Journey: The paddle to Elwha has begun,” July 27, 2025
• “Youth leadership the focus of 2024 canoe journey,” Aug. 15, 2024
• “Land acknowledgments: from words to transformative actions,” May 29, 2024
• “Canoe Encampment highlights earth, sky, water threats,” May 25, 2022