Our local tribes should be proud of the journey they’ve made across the waters of Puget Sound. Each dig into its waters, each drop of sweat they lost, each new friend they made along their lengthy annual canoe trip is significant. Each represents their ties to the past and their hope for a better tomorrow.

Members of the Suquamish and S’Klallam tribes that came home this weekend for a stay must have experienced a special pride in knowing that both their ancestral bonds and those to the community were strengthened through their arduous journey. The event has deeper meaning though. It will hopefully serve as a reminder that despite the cultural barriers that persist in our community, we can all share in the achievement of our neighbors and hopefully one day we’ll realize that, no matter our race, we’re all paddlers in the same canoe.