Twenty-five big canoes and more than 500 paddlers from across Canada arrived on the shores of the Bedford Channel in Fort Langley on Sunday, July 5.
The Pulling Together Canoe Journey arrived at the Kwantlen First Nation boat launch in the Bedford Channel with supporters and members of the public there to cheer their arrival.
The Pulling Together Journey began on July 2 and continues until July 10, through Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Vancouver and beyond. The Pulling Together Journey is a co-operative event between B.C. First Nations and various government agencies, including police.
Kwantlen First Nation’s canoe is called “Kwantlen Shxweli” (Kwantlen Spirit) and the paddlers are the “Kwantlen Tireless Runners.”
This is their maiden voyage as a canoe family. They are joined by youth from Kwikwetlem and Katzie Nations.
“This is not just a summer camp, it’s an assertion of who we are as a people, and is intended to show our spiritual, cultural, historical, and contemporary connections to our un-ceded territories,” said Kwantlen First Nation’s Brandon Gabriel.