PADDLE JOURNEYS

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"PADDLES UP!" What Does This Mean? Traditionally, when canoes entered a Tribe's or Nation's territory, paddle tips were pointed upward to signify a peaceful entry. "We Come In Peace!" This was also stated in the "entry speech", announcing who they are, where they come from, that they come in peace, and asking permission to come ashore.

Declaring War? Or Coming In Peace? If all paddles remained down in the water on entry, it meant they were Not coming in peace. This defiant action, Or other Breech of Protocol, could be an indication of, or an outright Declartion of War!

Rules of Proper Protocol Still Observed The Rules of Proper Protocol are still very important, and are observed and honored in today's Canoe Journeys and Cultural Gatherings.

"PADDLES UP!" Also Means "Be Ready!" Like at the start of a journey. The canoe Skipper calls, "Paddles Up!" Paddle tips will point upward, ready for the next directive. Then he or she (the Skipper) calls, "Paddles In!" All paddles position in the water. More directives are called: "Paddles! Right forward! Left back!" - to turn the canoe around. Then " All ahead" for take off, and so on. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Paddles Up!" Is also a greeting or salutation to other canoes, someone or something the group wants to acknowledge.

CURRENT CANOE JOURNEYS ~ In Contrast To Those Of Ages Past... Unlike Canoe journeys of long ago, we now have "Support Boats" that travel with the canoes to oversee safety factors, and to haul supplies and extra pullers for the journey. Canoe pullers wear safetu vests, and keep cooler chests on board for water and food. Ground crews travel by land with additional supplies, food, camp gear, and traditional regalia used in ceremonies. They meet the canoes at each landing site and have camp set up for each night. In the morning, they cook for the crew, clean up, see the canoes off on their day's journey, then break camp, pack the gear, and travel to the next location.

TRADITIONAL CELEBRATION Canoe Journeys, after traveling for a week, up to several weeks, typically end with several days of Native Traditional Celebration at the Host Native Village or Tribal Community. Gatherings may include: Feasts, Dancing, Ceremonies, Storytelling, Sharing times, Honorings, Namings, Skippers Meetings, Workshops, and Presentations by each canoe group. Food and product venders set up their wares, and thousands of people attend the gatherings and ceremonies of the event.

INTEREST CONTINUES TO GROW Since 1989 there have been many paddle journey events, with the 18th Journey scheduled for summer 2008. Participation has increased, with sometimes sixty and more traditional canoes participating in the recent Canoe Journeys. Each year more people are learning of this and participating. Tribes who did not yet have canoes, are making or buying them so they can more fully participate. "Canoe Family" Groups are making Regalia, and using the Canoe ways as teaching tools throughout the year in the Native Nations and Tribal Communities. Schools (both public and Tribal schools) are becoming involved, and using the Canoe Journeys, the video's and websites about the events, as curriculum. As society and the world speeds ahead, seemingly faster than the speed of light, taking time to slow your pace, connect with the past, and breathe with nature is a giant step forward for the healing process, for individuals, families and communities. And that is REAL progress!

"BIG" PADDLE CHALLENGE EVENT: Every four years or every year Journey destinations are usually determined by a "challenge" that is put forth by one of the Native American Tribes or Canada First Nations, inviting canoes of other nations and tribes to paddle to their Native Territory in "Four More Years". That's how it began in 1989 ... with the idea of a Big Paddle Event happening every four years - with the option of smaller paddle events held on the in-between years, in preparation of the every-forth-year paddle journey. But now, driven by the enthusiasm of the participants the "Big" Paddle Journeys have become annual events. Most are done on the "challenge" basis. However, some are just by "invitation" in which a Tribe or First Nation, who wants to host an end-of-journey gathering - according to tradition - sends out human curriors (to other canoe canoe society tribes and nations inviting them to attend a gathering that they will host on a certain date and time. .................. We try to avoid having conflicting dates of invitation (or challenge) for two different big Paddle Journey events or gatherings in different places at the same time. That is generally considered disrespectful... and is thought of as sowing seeds of conflict. It is not a well received practice in the Native Indigenous communities. IN ANCIENT TIMES, that would have been consdered a insult .. a fight-starter, forcing individuals, families, and tribes to take sides against one host tribe or family, in favor of the other. It was sure to make a rift between families, tribes, and nations. Those who accepted invitation and attended the gathering of the one host would most certainly be siding AGAINST the other host, and those who attended the gathering of the other host. In fact... this method was sometimes deliberately used to see who was in alliance with whom. It was very effective. In general, it was considered a dis-honoring act against a Host, to refuse invitation to a gathering that you were invited to. This was taken very seriously - unlike today, when you may accept invitation, or not, without fear of being counted as the enemy by your lack of attendance. (Thank goodness for that!) We try to avoid conflict-building situation. These-days, we are about MENDING rifts, not widening them.