Dozens of people gathered along the rocky stretch of beach on the Stommish Grounds May 27 to welcome canoeists returning from Canoe Journey during the Lummi Nation’s Gathering of the Eagles.
After making stops at Anacortes Island, Lopez Island, San Juan Island and Orcas Island, four canoes arrived to prayers, food, music and a fire following their several-day Canoe Journey. Their trip followed the ancestral highway of the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) people.
Four canoes landed at the beach on Stommish Grounds Friday night. The canoeists visited several islands, including Anacortes Island, Lopez Island, San Juan Island and Orcas Island before ending their journey with prayers and snacks at the Lummi Nation. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
The Gathering of the Eagles, known as Esqaplh etse Kwelengsen, is a nine-day event celebrating Indigenous communities in Washington, with dances, exhibits, film screenings and discussions. It also provided the opportunity for participants of the Alliance of Earth, Sky and Water Protectors to gather for discussions.
Several elders from the Lummi Nation prayed for safe passage of the canoes, and thanked participants for coming together to create a new family of those who supported salmon health. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
“We protect the salmon, we protect the four-legged, and we protect those that fly the sky,” said Frederick Lane, one of the organizers of the event. “We protect our elders, our teachers, our elder ancestors, all of our children here. Thank you for answering the call.”
Canoeists came from across the country to participate, with participants arriving from as far away as Maui, Hawaii. Volunteers pulled canoes from the Hawaiian Voyaging Canoe Society, the Chief Leschi School in Puyallup, the Carver’s Camp canoe family and the All Nations Canoe onto the beach as they came in.
A canoe family from Hawaii dances while blessing the canoe from Chief Leschi Schools as they depart to return home. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
“They’ve been on the waters for the last six days,” Lane said. “We thank [them] for traveling the miles. We thank [them] for coming all the way… coming here to be with us.”
Following the canoe journey, participants gathered at the Wexliem House for celebrations, including a coastal jam featuring dances and drumming.
Dozens of children and adults spun, jumped and danced to the drum beat in the gathering hall. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
Lane said the event, slated to last nine days, took 14 months of planning.
A member of the West Short Canoe Family beats his drum as sunlight filters into the hall. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
The motto of the event: “Moving forward in hope, healing, honor, happiness and hospitality.”
The West Shore Canoe Family from the Lummi Nation dances to the steady drum beats during the Coastal Jam at the Wex’liem Community Building on May 27. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
