Over 100 canoes, traveling from as far as Alaska and for as long as 22 days, arrived in Nisqually Indian Tribe lands by river on Friday, July 31.
The landing was the culmination of an annual canoe journey, a celebration and gathering of Northwest Indigenous nations.
This year’s canoe journey, Paddle to Nisqually Medicine Creek Potlatch, is the first that the Nisqually Tribe has hosted in a decade.
“Canoe Journey gatherings are rich in meaning and cultural significance,” the Nisqually Tribe said in a news release. “Canoe families travel great distances as their ancestors did and participating in the journey requires physical and spiritual discipline.”
The annual tribal journey in the Pacific Northwest region was sparked by the Paddle to Seattle in 1989 as part of Washington state’s Centennial celebration.
The Pacific Northwest canoe journey has grown to include over 100 canoes and the participation of canoe families from other native canoe cultures, including Native American tribes, First Nations peoples, Alaska Natives, Inuit, Maori, Native Hawaiians and other indigenous peoples from across the world.
The Nisqually Tribe has participated in the annual canoe journeys since 1994 and has used the canoe journeys to strengthen its culture, its community, and its families, the tribe stated. Historical cultural practices, from carving techniques to gifting ceremonies, cedar weaving to regalia making, have been revived and rediscovered, while songs have resurfaced to be shared at journey's end.
“The Tribe's pride of place and history are once again enriching the lives of young and old alike. The Nisqually Canoe family has learned and taught many of the older skills, and these practices are once again taken up by tribal community members,” the Nisqually Tribe said in a news release.
The canoes making this year’s canoe journey made their way to Sequalitchew Creek beach in DuPont, making a soft landing in Steilacoom at Sunnyside Beach where Steilacoom Tribe Chair Rebecca Unzueta, Nisqually Tribe Vice Chair Cheebo Frazier and Steilacoom Mayor Elizabeth Grasher welcomed canoes and spectators to the beach.
The canoe families then paddled to their final destination, Sequalitchew Beach. While now part of a three-mile hiking trail that begins behind DuPont City Hall, the Nisqually Tribe has hosted gatherings along the beach for thousands of years, according to research by the late Nisqually tribal historian Cecilia Svinth-Carpenter.
The Nisqually Tribe thanked the City of DuPont for helping with the logistics of accommodating the hundreds of people who flooded the hiking trail and the beach on Friday to greet the arriving canoe families.
Before coming ashore for a five-day-long celebration hosted by the Nisqually Tribe, each canoe family raised their paddles and asked for permission to land, promising to share their gifts in exchange for food and rest.
Nisqually royalty welcomed each family, saying it is good to see them and acknowledging that they traveled by water in a good way before inviting them ashore to rest, sing, dance and feast.
The celebrations continue at the Nisqually Tribe through Aug. 5.
The public is invited to witness the songs and dances, going on until at least 11 p.m. each night of the potlatch. There are food and merchandise vendors on site, and Nisqually Tribe is selling official Paddle to Nisqually Medicine Creek Potlatch T-shirts, hoodies and other items.
There is a 10 p.m. curfew in place for youth aged 16 and under without parental supervision.
Signs and volunteers or law enforcement personnel will direct visitors to public parking on either side of the big tent, which is east of the Yelm /Highway 510 roundabout and west of the Nisqually Tribe Administration Building.
The public is asked to listen to emcees when they announce that a song or dance is sacred and not to be recorded.
The Nisqually Tribe is also seeking volunteers to help work the event. Anyone looking to help is asked to stop by the volunteer tent on site.
Those traveling on Reservation Road and Yelm Highway this week are reminded to expect increased traffic during peak commute times, 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., and are asked to plan your travel outside of these times if possible and allow extra time to reach your destination.
“We sincerely appreciate your understanding, patience, and kindness toward our staff and volunteers as they continue serving our community and guests,” the Nisqually Tribe said in a social media post. “Thank you for helping make Paddle to Nisqually 2026 a safe, respectful, and memorable celebration for all.”
The Nisqually Tribe is posting regular updates related to the potlatch celebrations on its Facebook page.
