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Summer

IN EARLY June, Van-
couver harbor will be
witness to a unique event
rarely seen in this century.

By Paul Hughes
Contributing Writer

At that time, native tribes from
along the coast, and possibly from
other Pacific Rim countries as
well, will launch their traditional
ocean-going canoes to begin a
500-km (31f-mile) journey north
from Vancouver to the coastal
village of Bella Bella to attend the
Qautuwas (people gathering
together in one place) Festival.

The festival, hosted by the
Heiltsuk Nation of Betla Bella, is
being held on the 200th anniver-
sary of first contact between the
Heiltsuk people and European ex-
plorers.

The goal of the gathering is to
celebrate and stimulate the
renaissance of native culture
among aboriginal people, and to
illustrate the complex social, cvo-
nomic and spiritual values that ex-
isted prior to the arrival of the
explorers.

Among the canoes taking part
in the historic paddle’ will be the
Kxwu7lh (kwoo-ulh), built by the
Squamish Nation carver, Cedric
Billy.

The 45-foot-long Nootka- style
canoe, a design used extensively
by the Squamish people in earlier
times, was built in anticipation of
the Bella Bella event.

Frank Brown, executive director
of the Heiltsuk Heritage and
Events Coordination Centre,

NATIVE
AFFAIRS

tecently addressed several

Squamish band members who are
planning to (ake part in the gath-

ering.

Brown, who has been tireless in
promoting Qatuwas, was also
largely responsible for organizing
the historic paddle of the Glwa
(Gill-wa) ocean-going canoe from
Bella Bella to Expo 86.

In 1989, be participated in the
“Paddle to Seattle’? where the
Giwa took part in celebrations of
the Washington State Centennial.

It was here that the Heiltsuk
delesation invited all coastal tribes
to join them in a celebration and
canoe-gathering at Bella Bella in
the summer of 1993.

Brown told those gathered at
the Squamish Recreation Centre
that being involved in these events
had a profound effect on the
paddlers,

“We had a chance to view the
land through the eyes Gf our
ancestors,’’ he said. ‘It was like
transcending time.”’

He added that, by becoming in-
volved in Qatuwas, native peo-
ple, ‘have a real opportunity to
express (their) global concerns as
indigenous people.””

So far 10 canoes and over 800
people from the south coast
tribes, including five eanocs from
Washington state, have confirmed
their participation,

The northern tribes of
Skidegate, Masset, Kitsumkalu
(Terrace), Kitamaat, and Klemtu
are preparing to send seven

cunoes,

In addition, native groups from
both the Solomon Islands and
New Zealand have expressed an
interest in attending.

“This project is for both young
people and old people,"’ Brown
said. The elders, he added, would
have a chance to “reconnect with
their pase’? while the young par-
ticipants could, ‘‘see, with (the el-
ders’) vision, what it meant to be
Indian.

“They (the elders) are the
keepers of knowledge,’’ he said,
“and we are solidifying that
knowledge. | feel honored and
blessed to be a part of the pro-
cess.”

All canoes are expected to ar-
rive in Bella Bella on Sunday,
June 27. The festival will continue
until Saturday, July 3.

| tniiew

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