Celebrating ancient customs
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Updated: July 30, 2009 8:34 AM
Tribal Journeys arrives at Beecher Bay
On a warm Tuesday afternoon, Beecher Bay First Nation Chief Russell Chipps stood at the shoreline, granting paddlers from across the Island permission to come ashore.
In First Nations culture, it is customary to ask permission before entering another nation’s territory.
“I’m proud to have you here,” Chipps announced to paddlers in a canoe from Ahousaht First Nation. “Enjoy your stay, enjoy your journey and welcome ashore.”
Paddlers in eight traditional dugout cedar canoes paraded into the Beecher Bay harbour on July 29, the 10th stop during the 2009 Tribal Journeys.
Drummers sang and welcomed the visitors to the community for an evening feast and celebration. The band hosted members from Chenahkint, Friendly Cove, Hesquiaht, Ucluelet, Ahousaht, Ancla Huu ay aht, Ditiaht, Pacheedaht and T’Sou’ke.
“Tribal journey is a time where everyone gathers together,” Chipps said.
The following day, two canoes from Beecher Bay propelled by 14 local paddlers joined the journey. The next stop is at the Elwha Klallam reservation, on the north coast of the Olympic peninsula in Washington.
Bonnie Charles, a Beecher bay resident, has paddled in the Tribal Journeys for the past three years with her husband.
“I like watching all the different (nations), cultures and seeing people with their regalia,” Charles said. “I think it’s good for youth to learn all their traditions. It’s a healing process for a lot of people.”
Two support boats are making the journey with the Beecher Bay paddlers carrying food and other supplies.
The West Shore Rotary donated food for the evening feast. On the journey the paddlers will snack on fruit, nuts, trail mix and water supplied by the Rotary as well.
“We do a lot internationally and we wanted to help people in our own backyard,” said Dale Simon, West Shore Rotary president.
Supporting Beecher Bay with the Tribal Journeys is not a one-time effort, Simon said. Rotary plans to continue working with Beecher Bay and may help out with the day-care centre or literacy programs.
Tribal Journeys started July 19 in Chenahkint located in the Comox-Strathcona Regional District. Paddlers travelled south along Vancouver Island stopping at First Nations communities along the way. The journey ends in Suquamish, Wash. on the Kitsap Peninsula, Aug. 3.
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