“Tribal Journey, Part 6: Landings and Protocol” SAMAQAN Season 3 Episode 37

Three years' planning for the 2012 Tribal Journey brought 97 canoes to land at Squaxin on July 29th. A delegate from each of the canoes, some of them very young, introduced their canoe family in both English and their traditional languages. All were welcomed ashore by the host Squaxin Nation. The Nala Winds canoe family took the opportunity to extend an invitation to the canoe families to paddle to Bella Bella and visit the Heiltsuk Nation in 2014. The spiritual role that water plays in First Nations culture was marked by a sacred water ceremony. Cultural Protocol forms a very important closing to each Tribal Journey. Dances were performed over a week with 60 different performances, beginning with the Squaxin Island tribal welcome and each canoe family performing traditional songs and dances, including the Maori who came from New Zealand to paddle the Maori Waka as part of this Tribal Journey. Gifts were exchanged, friendships celebrated and hosts thanked. Despite an absence of Canadian media coverage, Tribal Journeys are one of the most colorful festivals in the Pacific Northwest.

This documentary from “SAMAQAN: Water Stories” Series 3, looks deeper at water's role in culture, spirituality and life itself for North America's First Nations people.

Directed by: Marianne Jones, Jeff Bear
Produced by: Marianne Jones, Kristy Assu, Jeff Bear