Editor's note: This is part two of Cathie Roy's diary, a seven-part series on the recent Pulling Together canoe voyage designed to bring together First Nations, youth and police forces.
Day two of Pulling Together starts easy. We have no set agenda until that evening when the Sliammon Nation will host a feast in our honour at their community hall. Luckily we can start this day with a shower, another blessing the Sliammon bestow on their visitors. Only after the next two gamey days can we fully appreciate this wonderful bounty.
We watch lazily as the people gather in the beautiful little church located directly across the street from our tent town. Another goose bump moment: the statue inset in the steeple of the church is the only relic from a devastating fire that wiped out many buildings including the former church in the early 1900s. The religious icon survived completely unscathed.
The musical elder from the previous night and his partner again entertain us. Some enterprising people from the reserve set up shop with authentic Native crafts for us to choose from, a fact that tickles Ed Hill.
"That's exactly how it would have been before [when the canoes were the only means of travel]. The Natives would have traded their goods for things from the canoes," Ed says later.
The energetic Squamish drummers, singers and dancers practice for hours. The women are beautiful to behold. Their dancing is so graceful. Michelle Paul, Victoria Michels and Danielle Morsette awe us all with their Native ballet.Wes Nahanee, one of the drummers (more about him later), spies me taking pictures. "I just saw the paparazzi," he says. Now that you've taken our picture, you need to dance with us."
And although I strongly suspect he's pulling my leg, dance I do to the eagle song. While I resemble a turkey, the Squamish dancers are too kind to say so.
Later that afternoon an ambulance shrieks through the reserve and comes to a stop down the street from the church. A short time later the church bell begins its sad lament for a lost life. A Sliammon elder, Florence Dominic, has died of natural causes. The First Nations people among us understand, in ways we can't, the significance of the passing. All the Sliammon people mourn, not just immediate family. The knowledgeable among us wonder if the feast planned for that evening will proceed. And for the Squamish Natives travelling on the journey, a new concern arises.
The Squamish believe the waterways are travelled by their ancestors. When someone dies, the ancestors use the water to come for the departed soul. Their tradition dictates that the people wait four days before venturing out on the water. Out of respect for the passed elder, the Squamish are willing to wait those days at Sliammon if the chief wants them to. Chief Walter Paul is grateful for the offer but tells the Squamish they are free to leave Sliammon.
That afternoon is the first time any of us go out on the water. The skippers and others are drilled on safety on the water. Fortunately except for one event (another day's story) there is no need to test that knowledge.
And the highlight of the day happens that evening when we gather for the meal prepared for us. A young woman, Kaila Shepherd, minds the traditional outdoor firepit cooking the salmon. Inside it's warm, and we have several people to honour before we can eat.
This is the first opportunity the Pulling Together group has to show its gratitude for the gracious way we've been welcomed by the Sliammon people.
The traditional Native way to show appreciation is with a blanket the giver wraps around the person being honoured. This is the first chance we have to see the beautiful hunter green blankets that are embroidered with all the emblems except one of the police forces represented on the journey. (Missing from the blanket is the CN police insignia.) The other forces with members on the journey include the Ontario Provincial Police, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), the New Westminster city police, Delta city police, West Vancouver city police, Abbotsford police department and the RCMP.
Representing the lower Sunshine Coast are Sgt. Gerry Webb and constables Chris Pillsworth, Tracy Dubnyk and Kelly Allen. Tracy is the newest member of the group. She's fresh out of training, and this is her first posting as of May this year. She and VPD officer Fiona Weller (one of the most experienced cops with over 32 years on the job) have personalities like many of the women in my family - no baloney tolerated. Both women are hard-working, no-nonsense people and ultimately fun to be around.
Several of the speakers at the feast acknowledge the loss of the Sliammon elder. One young woman sings a beautiful solo her Cree grandmother taught her. It's called The Grandmother Song, and while she sings, I get my strongest goose bump moment of the trip -I feel my mom standing, looking over my shoulder. Two years after her death I find myself missing her more than ever. Even writing about it brings tears to my eyes.
Later, Cindy Pallen, who works within the Band's mental health department, talks about the toll addictions have taken on her people. "In order for people to change, they have to be proud of who they are. I raise my hands to the organizers [of Pulling Together] for reviving our culture," she said.
When Insp. Eric Grummisch of the VPD presents Cindy with a cheque for $700 (from fees paid by the paddlers to be part of Pulling Together), she tells the group the money will help to fund youth sports programs for her people.
Chief Paul ends the evening on a high note.
"A few years back this [collaboration of Natives and police] never would have happened. There was always this wall. We're honoured to have you in this house. This house is yours."
There are few dry eyes that night.
Next week -the paddling begins.
