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PHOTOS: Splatsin canoe family completes eight-day journey

Splatsin youth, workers were Paddling Together from Powell River to Gibsons Beach

A Splatsin “canoe family” participated in the 19th Pulling Together journey this month, hosted by the Tla’amin First Nation with the cooperation of the Sechelt First Nation.

The annual canoe journey took place over eight days, beginning on July 6 in Saltery Bay Park near Powell River and ending on July 12 at Gibsons Beach.

The Splatsin crew joined more than 300 paddlers who participated, including Indigenous people, law enforcement and public service agencies.

The event is inspired by the 1997 Vision Quest Journey when Indigenous people and the RCMP visited Indigenous communities along the west coast of B.C.

Where The Canoe Takes Us: The Story Of Pulling Together from Pulling Together Canoe Society on Vimeo.

Youth recreation coordinators Mitch Ward and Kyle Crump led the Splatsin group of Mason Estabrooks, Hunter Eustache, Destiny William, Theresa William, Darian Williams, Colten William, Tommy Felix, Tristan William, Braden Cook, Doug Thomas, and Cadence Edwards.

“It was great. The kids all did really good,” Ward told the Vernon Morning Star.

“There was a lot of focus on cultural activities and the hosting by the host organization was really well done. They cooked meals for everybody every day.”

Ward said the overall goal of the journey is to promote respect for Indigenous cultures, as well as healing and reconciliation.

“Through experiencing this kind of challenging couple weeks, relationships will be built, and there’s time to talk about the differences between the communities and how to make it better,” he said.

Next year, for the 20th Pulling Together journey, he said Splatsin will be one of the Secwepemc host communities.

“It should be a pretty big thing,” he said.

READ MORE: Enderby’s Splatsin prepares for musical production



karissa.gall@blackpress.ca

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