Cedar canoes are the traditional mode of transportation for coastal Native American people of this region. For thousands of years several different types of canoes have played a key role in our survival. There were canoes for times of war, for fishing, for whaling, and even heavy cargo transportation. Today, the Suquamish Tribe travels the waters of our ancestors with members of many tribes in celebration and connection to our past.

In 1989 during the Suquamish “Paddle to Seattle” a canoe from the Heiltsuk Nation in Bella Bella BC challenged all nations to travel to their village in 1993 in traveling canoes to be part of the Qutawas festival.  28 canoes answered that challenge and that was the start of our modern day Canoe Journey.

Over a 100 canoes from as many as 90 US Tribes and Canadian First Nations and an estimated 12,000 people participate in Tribal Canoe Journeys, We pull canoes, provide ground support, sing and dance, share our culture, for the past, present and future of our people...

 

Past (and one future) Tribal Canoe Journeys:

• 1989 Suquamish, WA
• 1993 Bella Bella, B.C.
• 1994 Puget Sound
• 1995 Puget Sound
• 1996 Indigenous Games
• 1997 LaPush, WA
• 1998 Puyallup, WA
• 1999 Ahousaht, B.C.
• 2000 Songhees Nation, B.C.
• 2001 Squamish Nation, B.C.
• 2002 Quinault, WA
• 2003 Tulalip WA
• 2004 Chemainus, B.C.
• 2005 Lower Elwha, WA
• 2006 Muckleshoot, WA
• 2007 Lummi, WA
• 2008 Cowichan, B.C.
• 2009 Suquamish, WA

Upcoming Host
• 2010 Neah Bay, WA

 

Cedar canoes are the traditional mode of transportation for coastal Native American people of this region. For thousands of years several different types of canoes have played a key role in our survival. There were canoes for times of war, for fishing, for whaling, and even heavy cargo transportation. Today, the Suquamish Tribe travels the waters of our ancestors with members of many tribes in celebration and connection to our past.

In 1989 during the Suquamish “Paddle to Seattle” a canoe from the Heiltsuk Nation in Bella Bella BC challenged all nations to travel to their village in 1993 in traveling canoes to be part of the Qutawas festival.  28 canoes answered that challenge and that was the start of our modern day Canoe Journey.

Over a 100 canoes from as many as 90 US Tribes and Canadian First Nations and an estimated 12,000 people participate in Tribal Canoe Journeys, We pull canoes, provide ground support, sing and dance, share our culture, for the past, present and future of our people...

 

Past (and one future) Tribal Canoe Journeys:

• 1989 Suquamish, WA
• 1993 Bella Bella, B.C.
• 1994 Puget Sound
• 1995 Puget Sound
• 1996 Indigenous Games
• 1997 LaPush, WA
• 1998 Puyallup, WA
• 1999 Ahousaht, B.C.
• 2000 Songhees Nation, B.C.
• 2001 Squamish Nation, B.C.
• 2002 Quinault, WA
• 2003 Tulalip WA
• 2004 Chemainus, B.C.
• 2005 Lower Elwha, WA
• 2006 Muckleshoot, WA
• 2007 Lummi, WA
• 2008 Cowichan, B.C.
• 2009 Suquamish, WA

Upcoming Host
• 2010 Neah Bay, WA