Swinomish Gatherings

Photographs from Facing Climate Change featuring the 2011 Tribal Canoe Journey landing in La Conner, Washington. On the first day of the event, the host tribe formally grants the visiting canoes permission to come ashore to eat, rest, and share songs, dances and stories. Most of the canoes are paddled by youth, and for many of them the journey is an opportunity to learn and reconnect to the traditional ways of canoe culture. Also shown here are images from the annual Blessing of the Fleet.