The annual Canoe Journey, now in full swing, brings together Indigenous families from across the Pacific Northwest and beyond as they paddle toward this year’s host, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe on the north side of the Olympic Peninsula. Since 1989, canoe families have traveled from their home communities to visit Native nations throughout the Salish Sea in the final days of July. Each journey varies in length, depending on where families launch and how far they travel to take part in the tradition.

Swinomish entered four canoes in this year’s journey, including the well-known Salmon Dancer, which launched from Birch Bay on July 23 with scheduled stops at Lummi, Samish, Swinomish, Tulalip, Port Gamble, Port Townsend, and Jamestown before reaching Elwha.

A large crowd gathered Saturday at Swədəbš Park — known for its iconic cedar hat pavilions — to welcome the arriving canoes. Each family introduced themselves in their Coast Salish dialects and in English, formally requesting permission to land, rest, share meals, and participate in cultural celebration. Swinomish youth royalty received the protocols and granted them the honor to come ashore.

Chaz James of Swinomish, a La Conner High School student-athlete, spoke on behalf of the Little Salmon youth canoe. Anna Cook, a La Conner High School alum and college graduate, served as speaker for the Swinomish Seawolf canoe.

Once ashore, the canoe families — whose numbers, including support crews, can approach 100 people — made their way to the Swinomish Boys & Girls Club, where Cathi Bassford and her kitchen team served a salmon and halibut dinner to an estimated 2,000 guests.