The Longest Journey NORTHWEST NATIVES ARE RESURRECTING THE CANOE
AS A LINK TO THE PAST—AND FUTURE STORY AND PHOTOS BY AMMEN JORDAN
“DON’T PADDLE THE CANOE. Pull it, long and deep, in rhythm with the pacer. And one more thing, don’t call it a boat. Ever.” Rudy stares at me, before his thin lips turn into a smile and he introduces himself, listing a little on a spine wilted from fetal alcohol syndrome. We have gathered for the Tribal Journey. We leave tomorrow. Every summer the Quinault Indian Na-
tion sponsors its youth to take part in the Tribal Journey. Native tribes from Oregon to Alaska send paddlers in dugout canoes
to honour centuries-old traditions of trans- port, festivities, and trade. Tis year, 70 canoes, weighing up to 1,400
pounds and powered by 11 paddlers, will av- erage 56 kilometres a day for three weeks as they make their way north along the Olympic peninsula then east into the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Seattle and north to Sand Point. Tis year I will join them. Tough I was
never actually invited to take part. It just seemed to be assumed I would participate. I had recently moved to Quinault with my
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C ANOE ROOT S early summer 2007
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