The Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre canoe coming ashore on Snuneymuxw First Nation land in 2017, when SFN was a stop on the much larger canoe journey. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

warm welcome

Snuneymuxw First Nation hosting Tribal Journeys cultural event in 2020

Oct 23, 2019 | 9:34 AM

NANAIMO — Up to 120 canoes from Indigenous communities along the west coast and across the Pacific Ocean will land on the shores of Snuneymuxw First Nation next year.

SFN is hosting Tribal Journeys, a lengthy canoe trip with stops at various Indigenous communities to honour and share local culture. In 2017, SFN was one of the stops on the trek towards Wei Wai Kum First Nation near Campbell River.

Tribal Journeys 2020 chair Regan Seward said it’s a thrilling opportunity to showcase Snuneymuxw’s history and culture but also provide a wider look at our area.

“It allows our people to showcase our culture, our traditions here along with our Nanaimo community…we are incorporating and including the City of Nanaimo. We can work with our non-native families, our friends who live off the reserve, as one to showcase our event in Snuneymuxw.”

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Seward said including the broader Nanaimo community illustrates the key themes of unity and togetherness which are at the core of Tribal Journeys.

“(It’s) showing that all walks of life can come together as one and share their culture and traditions.”

Roughly 110 canoes were involved in the 2019 journey to Lummi, in Washington state. Seward anticipated up to 120 canoes will land on Snuneymuxw shores on July 27, 2020.

Once welcomed ashore, canoe families will head to the Snuneymuxw longhouse in Cedar for a five day protocol ceremony.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit