Submitted by event organizers.

Last May we had the honor of hosting the 2nd Annual Gathering of Eagles Canoe Encampment with various indigenous canoe families on San Juan Island and we have this opportunity again this year. Several indigenous canoes will arrive at Friday Harbor at approximately noon Monday, May 22 before heading to Jackson’s Beach. There will be a welcoming ceremony at Jackson’s Beach at 3 p.m. There will be a community potluck dinner for them at about 5 p.m. in which we hope you will participate. Then starting around 6 p.m., there will be an evening program referred to as “Protocol”, which is open to everyone. Attendees will want to bring their own chairs.

As mentioned, dinner will be around 5 p.m., so if you are bringing a dish, you would want to start arriving by 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 23 begins with the Opening Ceremony Circle at 1 p.m. into the evening we announce the 1st Annual San Juan Island Canoe and Ocean Festival to honor our shared waterways and the spirit and teachings of canoes. An event that we hope to grow each year with a call out to canoe builders/cultural practitioners, master carvers, shipwrights, folks to contribute art, music, medicine and traditional knowledge skills alongside participation from wonderful local community organizations.

This year joining the Coast Salish canoe families we have Alchemy Art Center with T-shirt screen printing (bring a T-shirt!) Cold Water Immersion SJI and their mobile sauna, Wayfinder Wellness with a Healers Tent, a Wilderness First Responder “live demo” with Karl Kruger and SSV Oceanwatch.

Canoe and Hawaiian Sailing canoe rides pending weather. Musicians or others who or have ideas to share for inclusion please email Matt at hookuivoyaging@gmail.com.

At 5 pm, Tuesday, May 23 wrapping up Canoe Fest we will have a community potluck followed by campfire and Coastal Jam!

Sure to be a great day. Please bring your own chairs, blankets, drinks, and a dish to share.

Firewood donations appreciated as well as any camping pop-up tables for event.

From Freddie Lane of the Lummi: We are so honored to be hosting the 3rd Annual Esqalph etse Kwelengsen ‘Gathering of the Eagles,’ — a mini-canoe journey, potlatch and strategy session with the Alliance of Earth, Sky & Water Protectors, May 21-29, 2023. The event concludes with a potlatch-style gathering of food, ceremony and strategy sessions uniting indigenous communities from throughout the world on the growing climate crisis. Last year, the event hosted over three canoes, 1,100 participants and 25 indigenous tribes and First Nations over nine days throughout the islands and here at Lummi. Our plan is to continue with awareness campaigns and training opportunities, uniting grass root organizers in protecting Mother Earth. The 2023 motto: “Celebrating Intergenerational Cultural Heritage.”

For those who would like to help financially, donate through Friends of the San Juans at sanjuans.org. Please be sure to specify that your money is to go to the Orcas part of the journey. Donations through Friends are tax-deductible.