THE LOWER ELWHA Klallam tribe’s canoe, “Spirit of Elwha,” is on its way with other tribal craft from around Puget Sound, British Columbia and Alaska.
It is expected to land at Jamestown, east of Sequim, this afternoon.
The 28 craft include four sealskin Aleut bidarkas from St. Paul Island, Alaska.
The Aleut have traveled more than 2,000 miles to reach the North Olympic Peninsula. They were airlifted to Seattle from their Bering Sea island and paddled to south Puget Sound from there.
Canoes from the east and west sides of Vancouver Island — joined by a Makah canoe that traveled across to the island on Thursday — will cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca on Monday.
All the canoes — including the early arrivals — will rendezvous on a Port Angeles beach at the old Rayonier mill site, which is closed to the public, late Monday afternoon before their formal landing about a mile to the west at Hollywood Beach.
This could be anytime from 2 p.m. (or earlier) to 5 p.m. (or later).
No firm arrival times at Hollywood Beach can be set due to changing water and weather conditions. Canoes from other tribes will arrive Tuesday.
The public is invited to watch the welcoming ceremonies, which are filled with ritual and tradition.
The canoes and ceremonies can be viewed from Waterfront Trail, City Pier and from the parking lot area above Hollywood Beach.
Peninsula Daily News
