Sea journey celebrates Native unity

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The west coast shore will be churning with paddles this summer as canoeists journey to Bella Bella, B.C. in celebration of the Year of World Indigenous Peoples.

More than 22 canoes and 1,000 participants will make the 564 km ocean journey up the Pacific Rim to mark 200 years since the first contact between the Heiltsuk Nation and European explorers. Starting at the end of May, paddlers will travel up the coast of Washington State, being joined throughout June by paddlers from the lower mainland, Vancouver Island and north coast for the Qatuwas People Gathering Together Festival.

Ten to 12 paddlers per canoe will travel approximately 40 km a day for 15 days to complete the journey. The groups converge on Bella Bella by June 27 for a week-long celebration.

"The canoe...has been the vessel of travel, cultural diffusion, commerce and communication for all northwest coast tribes. The Qatuwas Festival is symbolic of the renaissance of our ceremonial culture and ocean going traditions," said Frank Brown, executive director of the festival.