Paddlers pull together for epic voyage
Members of the RCMP white canoe team make their way along the Okanagan Lake route to Penticton earlier this week. Penticton RCMP Insp. Brad Haugli (below) gets an almost high five from Jaylon McRae as Tayton Stewart and dad AJ watch. The four were among the crowd on hand to welcome the Pulling Together Canoe Journey participants at Okanagan Lake Park beach.
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Updated: July 10, 2009 9:56 AM
With paddles raised in salute, several hundred tired but spiritually charged travellers arrived on shore here Wednesday to a heroes’ welcome.
Amid the shouts of greetings and the rhythmic beat of the ceremonial drummers the 21 canoes taking part in this year’s Pulling Together Journey were individually recognized by their Penticton Indian Band hosts.
The group, comprised of First Nations members and representatives of various enforcement agencies, began the 100-kilometre navigation of Okanagan Lake last Sunday.
The paddlers had the day off Thursday as the PIB hosted a special celebratory powwow to recognize this year’s event.
Participants were scheduled to leave this morning on the final leg of their journey, a four-hour trip on Skaha Lake before returning to Penticton for dinner and the final gathering known as the circle.
“This is my first time on the trip but I’ve been preparing for it for three years,” said 18-year-old Cassandra McPherson, a member of the Penticton crew. “I thought it would be kind of boring but it’s not. It’s a lot of fun and it’s great how nice everyone is to each other.”
The Pulling Together concept evolved from the 1997 VisionQuest Journey along coastal B.C. by RCMP members and First Nations peoples.
Since then a number of similar events have been held and this year’s trek was hosted by the Penticton Indian Band, the Penticton Mounties and the RCMP E Division Aboriginal Policing Services.
Although he did not take part in this year’s journey, PIB elder Joe Pierre emphasized the importance of having First Nations youth experience an integral part of their heritage.
“This is something that has been going on for thousands of years,” he said scanning the horizon for signs of the canoes prior to their arrival. “This will help young people understand the value of joining hands with our water culture — something that has been lost.
“This is so important to get back our strength with Mother Earth to remember who we are.”
His great granddaughter Jolene Michel was also on board the PIB canoe.
Along the route the paddlers made a number of stops in different communities where they had an opportunity to interact with both Aboriginal and non-aboriginal peoples.
However, the key element of the trip and over the years what has proven to be the most dramatic accomplishment has been the bonding and the education of participants working as a team.
“Nobody leaves anybody behind and everybody helps everyone else,” said Joe Jones of Sidney, a member of the Tseycun nation. “Just like it says, everyone pulling together.”
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