Monday, August 3, 2009
Congratulations, Suquamish Tribe, Suqumaish Ollala
neighbors, and visiting paddlers! What a day you gave us
all!
 Over
eighty - 80! - voyaging canoes fill the lawn this
morning of the new Suquamish long house overlooking Port
Madison Bay after "Paddle to Suquamish 2009"
participants arrived all afternoon Monday, August 3rd.
Canoes representing coastal first nation peoples of
British Columbia, Washington, and even Alaska, Hawaii
and New Zealand, most of whom had been paddling from
their home communities all during the record heat of the
last week of July assembled on the beach in a
spectacular arrival ceremony. 10,000 people lined the
new 500'-long dock, the surrounding hillside and filled
bleachers and the ever diminishing beach on the incoming
tide for a view of history and a chance to witness the
greeting songs, prayers and speeches.
The historic day must rank as the largest gathering
before
 a
Suquamish long house since the days of Chief Kitsap
himself!! This was the 20th anniversary of the
contemporary canoe voyages begun during the "Paddle to
Seattle 1989" for the Washington State Centennial.
It was Suquamish's first year to host the event as its
destination. Preparations had been going on for years
and years and before the 1989 inaugural event. Canoes
were carved, created and restored for tribes own
voyaging canoe fleet who led yesterday's flotilla
ashore.
Teaching and training of
the young and old the canoe skills and traditions was
necessary. Participating and experiencing other annual
voyages added to the great anticipation of 2009's
special voyage.
Hosting
overnight visits on past journeys that made stops on
Suquamish shores while in route to Seattle and Puyallup
and such added to the experiences of paddlers and non-padlers
alike. And the amazing community accomplishments of
recent years - erecting the new long house and community
gathering place in downtown Suquamish, a quarter mile
north of the historic Ol' Man House of Chiefs Kitsap,
Schwabe and Seattle; building the new 500 foot-long
concrete dock, ramp and float; clearing, seeding and
preparing areas for visitor canoe family camp grounds;
and all of the tireless and inspired logistical planning
to feed, house, transport, honor and celebrate the
remarkable voyagers and their families was truly
historic and remarkable.
The day was filled with reunions of old friends, songs
that were formal and as joyous and spontaneous as a
Seattle Folklife Festival. Indeed, it was! Every
visitor, paddler, guest and witness was given a meal fit
for a King - steamed clams, geoduck chowder, baked
salmon, baked halibut, steamed shrimp, cracked crab, new
potatoes, corn, apple pie, and beverage. When's the last
time you had 10,000 over for dinner?!!!
Everyone was also given a bag full of gifts, a schedule
of week long events, a commemorative water bottle, and
more all in a green reusable grocery bag gaily decorated
with onions on one side and, on the other, two large,
beautiful, red strawberries. The berries reminded us of
the significant contributions of so many of the paddlers
ancestors, some of whom also paddled here annually to
help the Bainbridge Island and Kitsap County strawberry
industry.
There are events and activities in Suquamish all week.
You'll have no trouble finding information booths there.
Before some of the canoers return to their homes, go
congratulate them and our Suquamish neighbors on their
monumental achievements. Take a look at the beautiful
canoes and dream. Next year's paddle is down Sound and
west along the Straits of Juan de Fuca to the Makah at
Neah Bay!
Jerry
Elfendahl
Photos by Kathryn Keve |
