Tribal canoes arrive at Seattle beach in annual celebration
Posted July 27, 2016 7:00 am
SEATTLE (AP) - Dozens of tribal canoes were arriving at Alki Beach in Seattle as part of an annual Native American celebration.
Members of the Muckleshoot Tribe greeted the boats Wednesday afternoon as part of the 2016 Paddle to Nisqually.
"The tribal journey is, to me, it's like coming together, in unity. And, for us, it's like a healing process," said 23-year-old Bonnie Fornsby of the Swinomish Tribe, which has four canoes in the celebration. "Everybody comes together and we all sing to make it and we're very strong. We're very strong."
Last year was the first time since 1993 that there wasn't a Puget Sound tribal journey, which attracts Native American peoples from as far as Alaska and Canada.
For the journeys, tribes throughout the Northwest gather a team of pullers. They leave their own shores in canoes and visit other tribal lands as they make their way to the host tribe's land.
On Saturday, canoes were expected to arrive at the Port of Olympia landing, where they will be greeted by members of the Nisqually Tribe.
Pullers from the Puyallup Tribe head toward a landing during an annual canoe journey Wednesday, July 27, 2016, in Seattle. Dozens of tribal canoes were arriving at Alki Beach in Seattle as part of an annual Native American celebration. Members of the Muckleshoot Tribe greeted the boats Wednesday afternoon as part of the 2016 Paddle to Nisqually. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
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Tribal canoes raft-up before heading to their arrival on a nearby beach during an annual journey Wednesday, July 27, 2016, in Seattle. Dozens of tribal canoes were arriving at Alki Beach in Seattle as part of an annual Native American celebration. Members of the Muckleshoot Tribe greeted the boats Wednesday afternoon as part of the 2016 Paddle to Nisqually. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
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Women wearing traditional woven cedar bark hats greet an arriving canoe during an annual journey Wednesday, July 27, 2016, in Seattle. Dozens of tribal canoes were arriving at Alki Beach in Seattle as part of an annual Native American celebration. Members of the Muckleshoot Tribe greeted the canoes as part of the 2016 Paddle to Nisqually. For the journeys, tribes throughout the Northwest gather a team of pullers, leaving their own shores in canoes and visiting other tribal lands as they make their way to the host tribe's land. The canoes are expected to arrive Saturday in Olympia, Wash., where they will be greeted by members of the host Nisqually Tribe. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
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Irene Kai, right, and Donna Starr greet an arriving tribal canoe during an annual journey Wednesday, July 27, 2016, in Seattle. Dozens of tribal canoes were arriving at Alki Beach in Seattle as part of an annual Native American celebration. Members of the Muckleshoot Tribe greeted the canoes as part of the 2016 Paddle to Nisqually. For the journeys, tribes throughout the Northwest gather a team of pullers, leaving their own shores in canoes and visiting other tribal lands as they make their way to the host tribe's land. The canoes are expected to arrive Saturday in Olympia, Wash., where they will be greeted by members of the host Nisqually Tribe. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
The Associated Press
Tribal members heft a canoe onto a beach and out of the tidal zone after their arrival during an annual journey Wednesday, July 27, 2016, in Seattle. Dozens of tribal canoes were arriving at Alki Beach in Seattle as part of an annual Native American celebration. Members of the Muckleshoot Tribe greeted the canoes as part of the 2016 Paddle to Nisqually. For the journeys, tribes throughout the Northwest gather a team of pullers, leaving their own shores in canoes and visiting other tribal lands as they make their way to the host tribe's land. The canoes are expected to arrive Saturday in Olympia, Wash., where they will be greeted by members of the host Nisqually Tribe. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
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Tribal members heft a canoe from the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe onto a beach and out of the tidal zone after their arrival during an annual journey Wednesday, July 27, 2016, in Seattle. Dozens of tribal canoes were arriving at Alki Beach in Seattle as part of an annual Native American celebration. Members of the Muckleshoot Tribe greeted the canoes as part of the 2016 Paddle to Nisqually. For the journeys, tribes throughout the Northwest gather a team of pullers, leaving their own shores in canoes and visiting other tribal lands as they make their way to the host tribe's land. The canoes are expected to arrive Saturday in Olympia, Wash., where they will be greeted by members of the host Nisqually Tribe. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
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Tribal pullers hold their canoe paddles upright as they wait their turn to be given permission to come ashore during an annual journey Wednesday, July 27, 2016, in Seattle. Dozens of tribal canoes were arriving at Alki Beach in Seattle as part of an annual Native American celebration. Members of the Muckleshoot Tribe greeted the canoes as part of the 2016 Paddle to Nisqually. For the journeys, tribes throughout the Northwest gather a team of pullers, leaving their own shores in canoes and visiting other tribal lands as they make their way to the host tribe's land. The canoes are expected to arrive Saturday in Olympia, Wash., where they will be greeted by members of the host Nisqually Tribe. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
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A tribal puller, wearing a traditional woven cedar bark hat, holds a paddle while waiting in a canoe during an annual journey Wednesday, July 27, 2016, in Seattle. Dozens of tribal canoes arrived at the beach in one of the final stops in an annual Native American journey through the Salish Sea. Members of the Muckleshoot Tribe greeted the canoes as part of the 2016 Paddle to Nisqually. The canoes are expected to arrive Saturday in Olympia, Wash., where they will be greeted by members of the host Nisqually Tribe. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
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Tribal pullers head toward a beach landing during an annual journey Wednesday, July 27, 2016, in Seattle. Dozens of tribal canoes arrived at the beach in one of the final stops in an annual Native American journey through the Salish Sea. Members of the Muckleshoot Tribe greeted the canoes as part of the 2016 Paddle to Nisqually. The canoes are expected to arrive Saturday in Olympia, Wash., where they will be greeted by members of the host Nisqually Tribe. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
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