2012 Canoe Welcoming

SourDough News | June 26, 2012

 

Raising awareness about suicide prevention through a traditional way of life

About 1,500 people, many wearing regalia, gathered at Auke Village Recreation Area, 14 miles northwest of Juneau, to welcome seven canoes from Angoon, Hoonah, Hydaburg, Kake, Sitka, and Wrangell. The large canoes, some with up to 12 paddlers, traveled up to 120 miles to participate to participate in the “Coming Ashore” ceremony organized by the One People Canoe Society and the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium’s “One is 2 many” Suicide Prevention Task Force. The coming ashore ceremony is an unofficial beginning to four days of Celebration of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska, sponsored by the Sealaska Heritage Institute.

Four canoes were launched in Kake, two canoes joined in Angoon, a canoe from Hoonah met the others at Funter Bay, and the paddlers overnighted at Coglin Island before arriving at Auke Bay, five days later, at a distance of about 150 nautical miles. Ninety individuals, ranging in age from 10 to 70, paddled to raise awareness about suicide prevention.

This is a story about healing for the communities, families and paddlers, and cultural rejuvenation. From the inception of the canoe journey there were many struggles. When things got really tough, Wilbur Brown, SEARHC Behavior Health Prevention Program Manager shared with paddlers that.  “These struggles we’re having are minor compared to the struggles people are facing who are contemplating suicide. Nothing is going to stop us.”

Before launching the canoes in Kake, the community hosted a potluck with traditional foods and dancing, and prayers for safety for the journey. In Angoon, camp fires lit the beach and the drumming and singing of residents guided the paddlers and safety boats into the bay. Clan elders and the Xudzidaa Kwaan dance group welcomed the visitors ashore for a second evening of traditional foods and dance performance. As the journey progressed, paddlers, families and communities affirmed the strength that comes from practicing our traditional way of life.

At Coglin Island, in the vicinity of Auke Village Recreation Area, clan elders boarded the canoes. As the canoes approached Auke Recreation beach, the clan leader in each canoe asked permission for the paddlers to come ashore. During the exchange of oratory, several canoeists commented, with gratitude that “Our ancestors were there with us ….”

As Auke Bay is the ancestral winter village of the Aak’w Kwaan (Auke Bay Tribe), it was fitting that the Aak’w Kwaan greeted the visiting clan leaders and paddlers with welcoming words. Aak’w Kwaan and Golbelt Heritage Institute hosted the shore side ceremony. Taku Smokeries donated 300 pounds of fish that the Goldbelt staff and volunteers cooked along with hamburgers and hotdogs. Members of the community brought salads and desserts. Like most spring days in Juneau, the canoe welcoming day began with overcast skies and a chill. As the day went on, the weather became brighter and hotter in tandem with the warmth and graciousness extended between paddlers, the hosts, and the members of the community.

Both Southeast Alaska Tribal Leader Committee Delegates Richard Peterson and Rob Sanderson, Jr. serve on the “One is 2 Many” suicide prevention task force. The task force is comprised of tribal leaders from throughout Southeast Alaska. As ATLC delegates, Richard and Rob meet with the Regional Forester’s team on a monthly conference call to discuss issues of interest to tribes and the Forest Service. The staggering rate of suicides within the Alaska Native population is an issue that Richard and Rob have raised with regional leadership during the monthly ATLC calls.

“In addition to discussing suicide prevention,” said Regional Forester Beth Pendleton, “the ATLC is addressing ways to strengthen opportunities for economic growth in rural communities, increase Alaska Native community involvement in forest restoration projects, and improve outreach to tribal entities relative to Forest Service job opportunities.”

With seven canoes in the coming ashore ceremony, public response was tremendous. The adjacent Forest Service road and parking areas filled to beyond capacity and the local police had to close the road and turn late-arriving vehicles away. One People Canoe Society President Doug Chilton and Wilbur Brown are coordinating with communities and tribes throughout Southeast to rejuvenate traditional canoeing in Southeast Alaska as a powerful way to raise awareness about suicide prevention. Doug has plans for launching the construction of traditional dugout cedar canoes for tribes who are interested in joining the society. Anticipating a larger 2014 ceremony, the Juneau Ranger District, the regional office, and event organizers are already engaging in preplanning so that everyone who wants to participate in the 2014 canoe welcoming ceremony will be able to do so safely and enjoyably. Our ancestors are smiling!

 

Alaska’s suicide rate has been double the national average for decades. Alaska Native males between the ages of 15 to 24 have the highest suicide rate in the U.S. The Statewide Suicide Prevention Council’s “Media Resources” link has a list of warning signs. For confidential assistance in Alaska, call Careline at 1-877-266-4357, 1-800-273-8255 or 1-907-254-7836). The SEARHC Healthline number is 1-877-294-0074.

 

By Lillian Petershoare, Tribal Relations Specialist, Regional Office