Gathering Strength

A canoe journey

 By: Joanne Campbell

In early August, 2011, eight ocean canoes plus support and safety vessels carried over 200 First Nations youth and their mentors approximately 460 kilometres down BC’s north coast.

Starting at Kincolith (Gingolx) at the mouth of the Nass River, the seventh annual Gathering Strength Canoe Journey culminated at Hartley Bay (Gitga’atla) at the mouth of Douglas Channel south of Kitimat. Over the nine-day trip, pullers from their tweens to mid-twenties camped on beaches and floors of community centres at small First Nations communities. At each village, they were welcomed with a feast and, in return, entertained the hosts with traditional dance and song.

This journey’s main objective is to empower First Nations youth. Paul Mercer, Journey founder and skipper of one of the Nisga’a canoes, notes that these kids must pull together in tough waters and live together in less-than-comfortable conditions. As a result, they will gain confidence in their abilities and perspective on their roots so that when they leave home for the city, they know they can succeed and bring their knowledge home to benefit their communities.

Gerald Robinson, also a Nisga’a skipper and co-founder, is passionate about the journey. For many—especially those that come from Vancouver—this will be their first introduction to coastal aboriginal cultures and communities. All will experience the ways their great-grandparents travelled these waters and lived on the land—in the hope that they can successfully integrate those ideals with their modern lives. Elders play an important role as well, enthusiastically supporting the Journey. This journey represents hope—especially for children affected by dysfunctional families and drug and alcohol abuse.

 Additionally, aboriginal youth and RCMP and Department of Fisheries and Oceans enforcement officers benefit from working together as equals in a positive, non-adversarial environment.

Stimulants and electronic distractions are not allowed. Participants must be drug- and alcohol-free for 30 days prior. No texts, Facebook, or phone calls. Without distractions, participants can more clearly consider the question: what do you want?

First Nations youth navigate modern culture like any teen, but also move within an aboriginal culture that in many ways is fundamentally different. Traditionally, the emphasis is less on the individual and more on one’s place within the community. In a canoe, no one pulls alone. Culturally, environmentally, and economically, we are stronger when we pull together.

As a media observer, I was privileged to participate as a puller in one of the Nisga’a canoes. Following is a sample of the notes I took during those amazing nine days in August 2011.

To read the article in its entirety follow this link: http://northword.ca