QATUWAS DIARY

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PART 5

Squamish paddlers greeted

with tribal warmth of coast

On June ft, 16 paddlers repre-
senting the Squamish Nation left
Aibleside Beach in West) Yan-
couver to begin the first leg of a
350-mile (S69km) canoe journey
to Waglisla (Bella Bella).

There, on June 27, they will
Join 24 other cinoes from native
territories along the coast of ILC.
and Washinaton State for the
Qatuwas Festival, a week-long
celebration of indivenous utuity.

The News has been covering the
story as the paddlers trained plys-
ically, mentally and spiritually tor
ie tip. Native atlairs reporter

Paul Hughes spent live days lol-
lowing the crew aboard tte escort
boa, The Motherlade, as the
canoe travelled the first 100. miles
(160 kim) from Ambleside to the
village of Sliammoan near Powell
River,

This is Part Vo of the Qatuwas
Diary.

NATIVE AFFAIRS
by Paul Hughes

SLIAMMON, 8.C. — The Village

of Sliammon is scarcely visible be-

fore Stacey Wilson, standing high

atop th. wheelhouse of The

Motherlode, announces, ‘Look!

They're sending out their racing
canoe to greet us."

The Squamish paddlers, dressed
in full red-vest paddle regalia,
haven't yet noticed, and Wilson
hails them, waving his arms and
pointing.

A ripple of excitement trickles
over the waves as the two canoes
sight one another,

The Squamish break their
stroke, switching from the solid
one-two-three, one-two-three, to
the Eagle’s Glide, one-two-rest,
one-two-rest.

At the pause, with the painted
emblems of raven, cagle and other
personal artwork on the blades
glistening in the sun, they slap
their paddle shafts on the gun-
wale. The sound echoes across the
waters to where the people gather
and where the ancestors watch,

The Sliammon canoe, the Sea
King, slips ahead to act as a
guide, and as we approach the
beach, the village elders and chiefs
wade into the water up (o their
knees.

lan Campbell, who holds the

Photo submitted

THE SQUAMISH Nation paddlers have begun their trip to Waglisla
(Bella Bella) where they will join 24 other canoes at the GQatuwas

Festival,

ancestral name of Xalek, stands in
the bow of the canoe.

in the ancient language af his
people, he tells those ashore that
he and the other paddlers are
from the Squamish Nation and
that they come on a mission of
peace. They ask permission to
land on the beautiful territories of
the Sliammon.

The Stiammon chief responds in
kind, welcoming them, and the
Squamish pay honor for the privi-
lege by asking Rick Harry to lead
them in three songs.

Harry moves slowly to the bow,
takes up his drum and begins to
sing a song belonging to Chief

UMMER SCHOOL

When you want them fo play this summer.

Dan George that was given to the
Coast Salish people by the George
family.

He is barely through ‘the first
verse before his voice falters. He
picks up the rhythm again and the
song continues, but not before
tears have splashed on the skin of
the drum.

lt is an emotional moment —
one of many on this trip — and it
is, in a way, the essence of what
this voyage is about,

This is the second Indian village
where the canoe has landed. The
first night of the tip. the crew
stayed with the people of the

See Gatuwas page ‘#2

and pass next fall

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