N.W. Canoe Journey

So we’re all excited to get on the canoe, near 25 total on a 36 foot 18 passenger Pacific Dancer, one of the largest canoes made in the northwest.

We get settled in the canoe and begin nervously looking around at each other checking on the comfort levels of everybody. We get assurance that we’re ready together begin slowly floating away from the dock. We paddle for a bit, but immediately realize we’re unstable as the right side is fairly heavy. So we paddle back to the dock. We get situated, but then become heavy on the left side. So we make a couple more adjustments and again, we’re all looking at each other checking on the comfort levels.

“Is everyone okay with this?” shouts the lead puller.
“Yeah, sure, ee, huh” voices call out from throughout the canoe.
“Alright…… Everybody pull!” shouts a puller.
Everybody begins paddling with all our might and the canoe begins to take off before we realize our direction!

“Whoa, stop, reverse, pull back” everybody’s shouting as we nearly paddle straight for a tree just feet away from the dock.

Together, we’re paddling backwards to prevent a major accident until we’re out of danger. We’re all laughing together realizing we’ve made a dumb, dangerous, but hilarious mistake as a family. We get situated again and soon enough, we take off again, but in the right direction, for a day of pulling on Lake Simtustus.

In the history of the modern day Columbia River Gorge, tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation referred to the sacred place as We’Multh (Kiksht), N’Chi Wana (Ichishkin), and Pabahuudu (Numu). In the midst of our relocation to the reservation, our people not only left our homelands, but we also left behind our beautiful works of art that included carvings, basketry, pottery, petroglyphs, structures, and canoes among many others.

For thousands of years, our people of the big river used Canoes to travel up, down, and across the river as part of our livelihoods. The canoes were carved from ancient cedar trees from steep valleys of the Gorge. In the midst of moving inland to the reservation with stipulations in harvesting from the Big River, our people slowly began to lose touch with our ancient art in the canoes and the spiritual journeys within.

For years, members of our community have connected with other Native Communities through spiritual canoe journeys. Seasons ago, those very members came together to begin reintroducing canoeing and our spiritual connection to water as our people have been since time immemorial. Under direction from cultural leaders, top management, and youth programs combined, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs now own a 36’ canoe to be traditionally named and dedicated to the people of Warm Springs on March 27th, 2010 at Indian Park on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. We as a community group are formally inviting you and the community to attend this special event and historical day. We’ve been able to meet weekly to discuss the Dedication day of ceremony, tradition, fun, and positive interaction since January and still looking for more community input in anyway possible.

We've also been able to invite canoe families from throughout the Northwest to also partake in this monumental event as well. If you know of other nations who may want to participate with their canoe family in this monumental event, please do invite them as well.

We were able to meet with several awesome tribal youth last night at the Museum At Warm Springs where the canoe currently rests for its Saturday practice runs consisting of enthusiastic community members. We invite each of you to participate in even the smallest ways possible if you may. Again, we invite you and tribal communities to our Canoe Dedication Day at Indian Park to witness canoe families from throughout the Northwest partake in a journey of spirituality and ceremony as we reintroduce the canoe to our people.

Mission: The Warm Springs Canoe Project is for Native American youth of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation to connect with, interact, and bond with their adult community in a positive way that inspires, encourages, and empowers one another.

Vision: The project is to be led by Native American Youth of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation while adults and young adults will serve as the advisors to encourage a sustainable and empowering project for generations to follow.

Canoe - Sau’kee (Numu - Paiute)
Canoe – Wat’ama (Ichishkin – Warm Springs)
Canoe – Uk’nim (Kiksht - Wasco)

For Questions, please reply or Call (541) 553-3331 or 3555 and Ask for Jefferson Greene or Roberta Kirk.

Thank You Kindly for your time and take care.