"Monday captured the true spirit of Seattle: On the shimmering waters of Lake Washington dozens of Northwest Native American canoes paddled to Sand Point at Magnuson Park. This year's host, the Muckleshoot Tribe, enriched us all by incorporating the canoe experience into our urban environment.

How universal (and 21st century) is the message from the 2006 Inter-Tribal Canoe Journey? Consider the three legacies of transportation, trade and the celebration of family.

The inter-tribal canoe journeys, which move around yearly, began in 1989 when a Quinault elder organized the "Paddle to Seattle" as part of the state's centennial. This year more than 70 canoes from 50 tribes traveled to Seattle from Alaska, British Columbia, Oregon and across Puget Sound. They arrived Monday to songs, a formal protocol for each canoe and a welcome from the Muckleshoot Tribe. The journey moves by land to Auburn for a week of feasting and celebration. We're all invited."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Canoe Journey: Pulling together (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 8/1)

Relevant Links:
Tribal Journeys blog - http://tribaljourneys.wordpress.com
Paddle Journey - http://community-2.webtv.net/bensuecharles/
PADDLEJOURNEY2001/index.html

Related Stories:
First Nations chief dies in canoe journey accident (7/27)
Tribal canoe journey continues in Washington (7/26)
Muckleshoot Tribe hosts annual canoe journey (7/25)
Canoes arrive in Washington for annual journey (7/24)
Day Trip: Learning to paddle a First Nations canoe (08/11)
More than 60 canoes arrive for annual celebration (8/2)
Weeklong celebration set for Tribal Canoe Journey (8/1)
Tribes begin to arrive for 2005 Canoe Journey (7/28)
Tribe gets ready to host 8,000 for Canoe Journey (05/02)
Thousands expected for 2005 Canoe Journey (04/13)
2005 Paddle Journey to end at Tse-whit-zen village (03/15)