PORT ANGELES — Canoes painted in bright, traditional Pacific Northwest colors arrived at Hollywood Beach on Sunday afternoon, gliding in on glassy, calm waters.
An Elwha greeter invited the visiting pullers to carry their boats to the beach.
“It’s good you arrived; come ashore, come ashore,” the greeter said while a dozen children from Wendy Sampson’s after-school program sang “Kania,” a song written by Chief Frank Nelson of the Musgamagw Tribe of Kingcome Inlet, B.C., for the Tribal Canoe Journey.
More than 100 people were on hand to watch and welcome the canoes and their pullers as they arrived.
Canoes came from Alaska, Canada and Oregon, including one from the Confederated Tribe of Warm Springs, which includes the Wasco and Paiute tribes, in northern Oregon.
Began in Quinault
The 2011 Canoe Journey began in Quinault on July 10, and will make it’s final landing in Swinomish on July 25.
Volunteers were called forward to help carry the canoes above the high-tide line.
Among the largest of the canoes is the Tsawataineuk tribe’s traditional dugout canoe, the Dzvnugwungis.
The Dzvnugwungis has been making the journey since 1997 and weighs more than 1,500 pounds,
The Tsawataineuk pullers pulled their canoe from Kingcome Inlet.
Above tide line
More than 30 tribal and non-tribal people stood side by side to carry the canoe to a safe point above the high-tide line.
Guards will stay with them through the night to prevent vandalism, which has happened in the past, said Franklin Wilson, a Makah puller and whale hunter who was taking a break to welcome the canoes in Port Angeles.
“There are no borders for us,” Wilson said. “This used to be our highway, to trade with outer tribes.”
In 1986, the tribes began the Canoe Journey, to bring the people back together, he said.
A family affair
Three Quinault brothers and several of their cousins pulled for their canoe, the Bunny, named after an honored relative who passed away about 10 years ago, they said.
Marcus Bayak Cole, 26, from Tahola, is the eldest and has been on several canoe journeys.
“It’s about the tradition, doing what our ancestors did, and bonding as a family,” Cole said.
Younger brother, David Cole, 20, is on his second trip. As a commercial fisherman, he is used to being at sea, but the canoe journey is different, he said.
“It’s fun to do,” David said.
Youngest brother Mitchell Cole, 18, pulled for the first year.
“It’s an adventure, and I get to be close to my family, Mitchell said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
