{"id":1229,"date":"2018-07-27T10:09:10","date_gmt":"2018-07-27T17:09:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.piercecountywa.gov\/executive\/?p=1229"},"modified":"2023-06-26T13:35:16","modified_gmt":"2023-06-26T20:35:16","slug":"power-paddle-to-puyallup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.piercecountywa.gov\/executive\/2018\/07\/27\/power-paddle-to-puyallup\/","title":{"rendered":"Power Paddle to Puyallup"},"content":{"rendered":"

Large handmade cedar bark canoes are on the move.\u00a0 Some have been on the water and even in the ocean over the last month.<\/p>\n

Paddle to Puyallup will kick off tomorrow morning and run through Saturday, August 4th<\/sup>\u00a0as more than 100 cedar bark canoes will ask permission to land and come ashore at the former Ole & Charlie\u2019s Marina at the mouth of the Hylebos Waterway.\u00a0 Canoes are coming – one from the east coast, as far south as Southern Oregon and as far north as Alaska.<\/p>\n

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Canoe Journey has been going on since it\u2019s rebirth in 1989 when the Paddle to Seattle was organized to commemorate the state of Washington\u2019s statehood Centennial\u00a0\u00a0 Starting in 1993 and nearly every year thereafter, a\u00a0Tribe or Nation has hosted Canoe Journey. This year, the Puyallup Tribe is our host, giving those living in Pierce County an opportunity to witness this annual awe-inspiring event.<\/p>\n

Cedar trees have always been an integral part of my family for generations. We carved our own canoes, totem and masks.\u00a0 \u00a0The cedar tree was not only used to make dug-out canoes for travel, the cedar bark was used for baskets, utensils, capes, skirts, headdresses, art and medicine,\u00a0to name a few uses.<\/p>\n

I have personally processed the cedar bark that was harvested from my dad\u2019s property. My son and grand-nephew pulled in 20 to 30-foot lengths of cedar for me to peal, clean, dry, split and use to make baskets and other items.<\/p>\n

Over the years I have experienced many canoe journey celebrations.\u00a0 I helped with the preparations for Canoe Journey to Quinault in 2013 and, as a member of the Sotomish family, Chief\u2019s People of Quinault, I participated with my family in the 2002 Canoe Journey protocol ending in a huge give-a-way.<\/p>\n

Every celebration I have attended adds another layer of richness to my life, fills me with happiness and pride.\u00a0 I look forward to spending some quality time both volunteering and observing many of my favorite tribes and\/or canoe families as they take the floor over the next week of celebrations.<\/p>\n

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I encourage you to participate in this year\u2019s Canoe Journey and wanted to share a few tips about what to expect.<\/p>\n

At the Landing on Saturday:<\/strong><\/p>\n