It was a real life revelation for me, this non-Indian elder on the 2012 Tribal Canoe Journey.

It may seem obvious to many, but I experienced the dismal fact that South Sound Salish Sea Canoe families have no shore.

Not anymore. The landings of the 103 canoes enroute to their Squaxin Island destination took place on”occupied” land. Muckleshoot welcomed on  Seattle’s Alki Beach, Puyallup  at the Port of Tacoma,  Nisqually on   military Joint Base Lewis McCord, Squaxin Island at the Port of Olympia. In the greeting ceremony the Squaxin hosts warned children and pullers to not get wet in the superfund site toxic water.

But mingling with the traditions were locked gates, launch ramps, canoe trailers, golf carts, and school buses. I-5 was essential in connecting the pullers with their canoes and with  their canoe  families. The Squaxin people were incredible in their very complex job of hosting  an estimated 10,000 people.

If we are not indigenous to North America you and I have our cultural roots somewhere else.  We may not connect with our cultural roots. or even know what they are, but somewhere our cultures remains intact. We may even deny they have anything to do with who we are. Yet they do.

American Indian roots are  right here and now and nowhere else. As these journeys carry the teachings from the past to the future it behooves all of us to look into our roots and gather the strength that is there. John Trudell, American Indian activist and poet says “We are all Tribal People. Some are just closer to their roots.”

My hope is that shorelines will once again connect canoe tribes to their lifegiving sacred waters.

Marilyn Bode
Sacred Water Canoe Family