Canoe Journey Paddle to Puyallup

Canoe Journey Paddle to Puyallup

“This ledger is called “Power to Puyallup Seattle Landing”. It was created at the Puyallup hosting and protocol event which is the culmination of the Canoe Journey, and the signatures of participants were gathered during meals and protocol. The Canoe Journey has become an important cultural event, underscoring the message that we are still here, we are still strong, we still keep our traditional ways sacred, and we intend to remain who we are in our sovereignty. This image represents the Alki Beach landing (Alki is also the site of the very first settlement created by Europeans who came with the intention of conquering our land and obliterating us in the process if necessary). 100s of canoes made their ceremonial entrance into Duwamish territory here on their way to Puyallup.
One of my granddaughters was a member of the Quinault Family canoe, along with her father. Her cousins—my other granddaughters—were there to greet her and welcome her—along with 2 more generations of her family. The family and tribal connections will continue to sustain and empower our next generations.
The image is created on a nautical map of the Seattle Harbor. The canoe and its family are superimposed over Alki Point, as though breaking through the land and water. The fishing waterway through which salmon still enter for spawning, and from which the Muckleshoot still exercise their sovereign rights to fish, cuts right through the middle of the canoe, providing the strength of our salmon relatives to the canoe family.”