"The anticipation is building. Nearly 13,000 Native American and First Nation tribes, representing 130 Northwest Coastal tribal communities are paddling down Puget Sound this morning. They are coming from places like Alaska, California, Hawaii and British Columbia.

Some have been paddling for weeks, stopping to visit other tribal communities on their journey. When they land at North Point on the Port peninsula Sunday afternoon, it will mark the end of the 2012 Canoe Journey, and the beginning of a weeklong celebration of the revival of Northwest Indian traditions and sharing of individual tribal cultures.

It is an honor for the Squaxin Island Tribe to host this year’s annual gathering of Northwest coastal indigenous nations, and a privilege for South Sound non-tribal people to witness and enjoy.

The canoes will begin arriving about 1 p.m. Sunday, but those on shore will hear them before they see them. Each canoe family – with eight to 20 crew members in a 30- to 40-foot canoe – will be singing and beating their drums."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Tribal gathering brings vast sense of heritage, tradition (The Olympian 7/27)

Also Today:
Paddle to Squaxin (KMAS 7/27)
Indian Canoe Journey makes its way into South Sound (The Tacoma News Tribune 7/26)

Related Stories:
OPB: Cowlitz Tribe keeping tradition alive with Canoe Journey (7/19)
Editorial: Experience tribal traditions with annual Canoe Journey (7/13)
Editorial: Tribes keep traditions alive with annual Canoe Journey (6/25)
Tribes in Pacific Northwest get ready for annual Canoe Journey (6/11)