The Quileute were scheduled to join the 2016 Paddle to Nisqually today, with the Makah entering into the journey on Monday.
After an overnight stay at Pillar Point on Tuesday, paddlers will arrive in Port Angeles on Wednesday for a two-day stay with the Lower Elwha Klallam.
The canoes — which will include paddlers from the Quinault and the Hoh tribes — will arrive in Port Angeles at Hollywood Beach. Canadian canoes are expected to join the journey there.
The public is welcome to watch. The time is unknown.
The destination for the usually annual gathering of tribes is the Port of Olympia on July 30.
The Nisqually tribe will host tribes from Oregon to British Columbia for potlatch, ceremonies and celebrations through Aug. 6.
During canoe journeys, participating tribes leave their own shores and visit other tribes along the way to the hosting tribe’s lands. Before they land, they ask the host tribe for permission to come ashore.
Landing ceremonies include welcoming songs and are followed by potlatches with meals, storytelling and the further exchange of songs, dances and gifts.
This is the first journey since 2014. No tribe stepped forward to host the event in 2015.
Future stops
About 26 canoes are expected to make landfall at Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles, said Sonja Elofson, the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe’s Canoe Family coordinator.
The journey will continue to the Jamestown beach Friday, where pullers will be welcomed by the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe.
Next stop in PT
The next stop will be Saturday in Port Townsend for a joint welcoming ceremony by the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe, the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe and the Port Gamble S’Klallam tribe, said Vickie L. Carroll, Jamestown S’Klallam tribal Canoe Journey coordinator.
The Port Gamble S’Klallam will join the journey next Sunday, July 24, and it will continue on to Olympia.
