Celebrate Canoe Journey July 20-21 – Helpers Needed!

On Friday, July 20, tribal members from British Columbia will arrive on San Juan Island in ocean going canoes as part of the Tribal Canoe JourneyPower Paddle to Puyallup.” This inter-tribal Canoe Journey will end in the territory of the Medicine Creek Nation, which Puyallup Tribe will be hosting July 28 – August 4, 2018.

Our island community will host 2 nights of camping, meals, and ceremonial space for the Tribal Canoe families. All are welcome and invited to the community dinners at 6:30 p.m.

Landing dates and locations in the San Juans:

Friday, July 20 – Pe’pi’ ow’elh (English Camp, San Juan Island National Historical Park)

Saturday, July 21 – Sxw’alech (Odlin County Park, Lopez Island)

Volunteers are needed to help with meals. Support boats (sail or power boats) are needed to escort canoes crossing from Sidney to San Juan on July 20, San Juan to Lopez on July 21, and Lopez through Rosario Strait on July 22. Please contact Friends of the San Juans at 360-378-2319 for more information or to volunteer.

The Canoe Journey reinvigorates Coast Salish culture and builds relationships with the communities they visit in their traditional homeland. This year’s Canoe Journey is generously supported by Friends of the San Juans, Roche Harbor Resort, National Park Service, San Juan County, San Juan County Parks, and community members of Lopez and San Juan Island.

We hope to see you there!

Donations are also very much appreciated. Click here to make a gift.

Now more than ever Friends of the San Juans needs our support. Learn about the Friends, educate yourself, and you will inevitably want to be a Friend because that is who we turn to when we need support to protect this place.

Liza Michaelson

member, San Juan Island