The North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo grounds in Barriere became the centralized camping area Saturday for participants in the 20th Pulling Together Canoe Journey.
The journey is hosted by the Splatsin, Cstélnec (Adams Lake), Simpcw, and Tsq’escenemc (Canim Lake) First Nations, in cooperation with Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc. The eight-day journey began on July 12 in Belvidere Park in Enderby, stopping at Grindrod Park, Mara Lake, Pierre’s Point and Blind Bay on Shuswap Lake, before heading to Simpcw territory last weekend.
The participants then travelled to Dunn Lake and Clearwater Lake earlier this week with a final paddle July 20 at Green Lake, a traditional summer gathering place for the Secwépemc People. The journey promotes healing, reconciliation, and respect for Indigenous host nations, as well as the sharing of Indigenous cultures.
On arrival in Barriere, an impressive row of 15 canoes were lined up on trailers in the rodeo infield, where they silently awaited each day’s journey on the water. RCMP, police departments, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Navy had all attended and participated, sharing canoes with Indigenous families and youth.
A participant of the event commented the canoes were valued from $15,000 to $20,000, with the dugout canoes (made from a hollowed tree) being valued at $1,000 a square foot.
Hearty breakfasts and canoe lunches were prepared at the fairgrounds by the Barriere Lions Club and a number of Simpcw helpers. They reported putting together 295 lunches for the canoeists on Monday morning, and would be doing the same for another two days.
After the daily paddle, participants then gathered each afternoon for an evening meal in Chu Chu. The attendees visited, shared their cultures, and participated in stick games to see who would eat first.
“The girls won, so the girls got to eat first on Sunday night,” said Simpcw First Nation Band Councillor Tina Donald with a smile.
“This whole event is going really well. We’re doing what the mission is – to create those relationships between youth, community members, between police – we have a number of different police departments here, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and also the Navy. We are all pulling together and building those relationships as we are working together.”
_______________
Like us on Facebook
