Pulling together on the Fraser

The canoe trip has been a source of fulfillment, pride and a whole lot of mosquito bites.

That’s how Sumas First Nation member Chris Silver describes the Pulling Together journey on the Fraser River, geared to bringing police forces and First Nations closer together.

The 19-year-old Sto:lo youth was one of 200 paddlers who pulled off the main stem of the river late Friday afternoon to feast and camp in Chilliwack overnight, after being welcomed at the Shxwha:y village longhouse.

This is Silver’s second time at it. Last year he did the ocean journey of Pulling Together, as a way to embrace his spirituality, culture and the teachings of other communities.

“I was really interested in our ancestral ways and the fact we used to travel everywhere by canoe,” he tells Black Press.

The pullers left Hope on June 26 and are expected to arrive in Gibsons some time today.

Silver says he appreciates being exposed to the different teachings in the communities they visit along the way.

“You pick up pieces from each journey.”

Some of the canoes in the Pulling Together flotilla actually got hung up trying to head upstream in the strong river currents between Seabird Island and Chilliwack.

“It took lots of hard pulling,” says Silver.

Silver, whose cousin is B.C. Lieutenant-Governor Steven Point, is enjoying every aspect of the trip this year.

“You get to see an incredible view of things from the river, with all the trees, and rock formations that you pass,” he says.

It’s a bit like a family unit being part of Pulling Together. He did a bit of canoeing around the Mission area in high school, but the canoe trip intensifies the experience.

“It’s as hard as you make it,” he says about the physically gruelling aspects of it. “To keep my mind off paddling, I would socialize and talk as we went.

“You all have to be in synch.”

At Shxwha:y village, Silver was approached by retired Toronto police officer Ted Price of Abbotsford who told him he was looking forward to a night in a traditional longhouse.

“To have the privilege of sleeping in the longhouse with First Nations people is really something for me,” he said.

Silver told Price it would fortify him.

“They say that sleeping in the longhouse with the Old People makes you stronger.”

The paddlers on the trip included reps from First Nations along the coast, aboriginal youth and a variety of enforcement officers from Hope, Agassiz and Chilliwack.

From Chilliwack, there are two other officers participating, including Const. Lea-Anne Dunlop, Sgt. Barb Koons, and Const. Tara Harrington, along with officers from the First Nations policing unit, like Const. Gail Starr.

Silver said for some of the officers involved, it could be their first experience with ancient cultures.

“The trip exposes them first-hand to the culture and the power of the First Nations people,” he adds.

Up to 20 canoes are due in Gibsons today, with police officers in dress uniform and First Nations people in traditional regalia. Blog entries at BC.rcmp.ca.