So… the guy at the top holds the tribal flag of the Muckleshoots. There is a group that waits in the water and from time to time they chant. On the shore, there are drummers. When one of the boats approaches, the people in the water greet them and everyone hoists the boat onto the shore.
What blows my mind is that the boats travelled over ten (10) hours from Suquamish to get here! In rain, strong current, two foot swells, and a healthy amount of chop.
I was honoured just to be there. I couldn’t find the tribe’s official historian, but several members of their staff (who were also part of the boat crews) were very gracious in answering all my noob questions.
Check out the updated canoe journey route on Facebook They have two more stops in Puyallup and Owens Beach (Tacoma).