Canoes participating in the annual Pacific Northwest tribes’ journey are landing at Alki Beach this afternoon – the first arrivals are already here. Alki is a stop along the way to Squaxin Island in the South Sound, which this year is the site of the gathering to which, according to the official announcement, as many as 130 canoes in all are headed (starting with a landing in Olympia next Sunday). Here are the many stops along the way, including Alki. More to come.
2:15 PM UPDATE: More canoes continue to approach the shore, many of their crews chanting and singing. There’s a big crowd all along the seawall and on the beach to greet and to watch. At least half a dozen more are visible offshore; many of these canoes left Suquamish on the North Kitsap Peninsula this morning.
3:05 PM UPDATE: The group of canoes that all arrived together have finished coming ashore; there are now two more in the distance, possibly having launched from Tulalip in Snohomish County. The Muckleshoot Tribe hosts the Alki stop, including support from uniformed security, with a vehicle patroling the boardwalk. The Duwamish Tribe is part of this year’s journey too – Linda Dombrowski tells us that the Duwamish Canoe Family is participating in the Duwamish Raven Canoe. She adds, “Raven Canoe skipper is Justine Finkbonner. Support crew on the beach today include Cecile Hansen, the Duwamish Tribal Chairperson and great-great-great-great-grandniece of Chief Seattle, and Ken Workman, Duwamish Tribal Councilman and great-great-great-great-grandson of Chief Seattle. This year’s Raven Canoe Paddlers include Duwamish youth leaders.”
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