Gather
Towards a Skookum Surrey
Gathering ahead of our canoe journey was essential to begin connecting and committing to each other.
Through three gatherings and a Skookum Surrey guide group picnic, we explored what was possible for our journey and learned about the cultural significance of the land and waters.
On the water, we must paddle together to move forward in a good way. These initial gatherings helped build the foundation to paddle as one. We began the necessary work of connecting as humans and also, over time, uncovered the need to adjust our route.
In the original conception of the project, we planned to bring service providers and community members together on a journey to paddle up a portion of the lower Fraser River. This journey would create a novel opportunity for participants to learn about the importance of Coast Salish cultural practices and better understand historical and ongoing connections to the lands and waters in their territories.
As we gathered to explore and plan our route, it became clear that this was a much more challenging and complex undertaking than anticipated, given the limited time and resources available and the relative inexperience of our team of paddlers. Read on to find out how our route evolved.
[Land-based, experiential learning] would be hugely impactful in dissipating some of the stereotypes people have in their minds about Indigenous people…kind of dissipating some of those stereotypes and humanizing Indigenous people and giving people an avenue to just get to know the community.
Skookum Participant
Reflection Moment
Take a moment to reflect on the following questions.
How do practices of gathering and holding community show up for you in your workplace?
What are some ways you could encourage more of these practices?
What thoughts, feelings, and reactions come up for you when you hear the phrase “paddling together”?
The Journey Begins
June 14, 2023
Kwantlen Cultural Centre – Sacred and shared land of the Kwantlen and Katzie First Nations
Our first gathering found us on a warm Thursday in June 2023 at the Kwantlen Cultural Centre (KCC). Situated on the sacred and shared land of the Kwantlen and Katzie First Nations, KCC is built entirely out of western red cedar, a versatile and lightweight wood that is also commonly used by Coast Salish Peoples to build canoes.
Elder Richard Pierre, Sdemokeltel, from Katzie First Nation on his father’s side and Tsawout First Nation on his mother’s side, opened with a welcome and teachings. Lyana Patrick–supported by Devin Waugh, Krystal Dumais, and Ilhan Abdullahi–shared an overview of the project origins, goals, and planned route. At this initial stage, our canoe journey would take participants along the Fraser River travelling through the traditional territories of 14 First Nations.
Even though we’re all from different nations, I feel like it’s such a beautiful thing, because we’re not only bringing ourselves and our community, but the ancestors that we’re tied to, even the ones who’s never been on a canoe journey before.
Skookum Participant
All in all, at this first gathering, participants and organizers became acquainted and entered hesitantly together into an exploration of hopes and fears for the project. We began to learn about canoe teachings and the people whose lands we live on, setting the tone for gatherings to follow.
I felt that this would be an opportunity to learn a little bit more about protocols and to build a little bit more relationship too, potentially with the [local, land-based] nation… that’s what nudged me originally, was this is an opportunity actually to do what I feel like we need to do, which is have better understanding and actually be able to relate and connect and, and learn about each other a little bit more.
Health/Social Service Participant
Reflection Moment
Take a moment to reflect on the following questions.
What fears show up as you start your canoe journey with us? What hopes?
Understanding our Journey
August 31, 2023
Hawthorne Rotary Park – Traditional, unceded territory of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem (kʷikʷəƛ̓əm), Kwantlen, Qayqayt and Tsawwassen First Nations
On August 31, 2023, Skookum Surrey hosted a Guide Group event at Hawthorn Rotary Park on the traditional and unceded territory of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem (kʷikʷəƛ̓əm), Kwantlen, Qayqayt and Tsawwassen First Nations.
We circled around a picnic, we drummed, and we shared prayers with guide group members for a good opening to the work and to demonstrate our commitment to journeying together.
Being involved in Skookum Surrey, and being part of the guide groups and being one of the Indigenous ambassadors, I really felt like going on this canoe journey and being part of this sort of felt like a family outing. It felt like the Skookum family was all going camping, and we were going to bring all of the elders, and it was this really like, of course I was going to go.
Skookum Participant
Joining us were Chiaxsten (Wes Nahanee) of Squamish Nation and Elder Ruby Marks of Haida Gwaii. Chiaxsten displayed a map of the route we planned to take and imparted knowledge about the strenuous waters we would encounter along the way while Elder Ruby told us about her experience and knowledge of canoeing on coastal waters.
I thought it was important for me, as somebody who’s been involved in this project in so many different capacities, to come along and, you know, act as a witness, and be able to speak to the importance of where this project started, to where it’s wound up now, and even moving forward to, like, knowing how excited people are for future canoe journeys.
Skookum Participant
Journeying Towards Calmer Waters
June 14, 2023
Simon Fraser University, Surrey Campus – Traditional and unceded territory of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem (kʷikʷəƛ̓əm), Kwantlen, Qayqayt and Tsawwassen First Nations
Participants and organizers gathered in circle again, this time at Simon Fraser University’s Surrey Campus on the traditional and unceded territory of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem (kʷikʷəƛ̓əm), Kwantlen, Qayqayt and Tsawwassen First Nations.
Lyana opened with the Caribou Clan song from the Stellat’en First Nation, a song from her father’s clan. In it, the singer is asking the medicine men from all the neighbouring nations to come and help them, to use the power of their breath to make them well again.
This was a chance for Lyana to introduce herself both to the participants and to the ancestors of these lands and waters. Through this song, we humbly and respectfully asked for their permission to go on the canoe journey, and to help us find healing and strength on the water.
Asking for the healing breath of the medicine men helped ground the project in a good way as the wind helps the canoe move forward. Elder Ruby Marks then shared teachings from the 10 canoe journeys she’s been on.
It’s been quite a challenge to firstly make the connection and then to remain connected in a meaningful manner. So things happen in bits and pieces, but that continuity is not there. And partly I feel is that because we’ve not been able to develop those relationships at an individual level, and I think that is what is going to make a difference, ultimately.
Health/Social Service Participant
At this gathering, we also deepened our collective commitment to the canoe journey. As participants shared more about their fears and expectations, we realized many people had not ever been on a canoe. With this new understanding, we started to explore what might be possible and not possible for our journey, including re-thinking the planned route.
With the capable guidance of Chiaxsten, our Squamish canoe skipper, and Sherry Williams, our Semiahmoo cultural advisor, we came up with an alternative route. Chiaxsten proposed a scaled-down journey based in the unceded, traditional, and ancestral territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). From a base camp at Camp Fircom on Chá7elkwnech (Gambier Island), we would explore the local area by canoe and engage in land-based activities, including guided hikes and storytelling.
Almost immediately, our journey took on a new life. The new route combined a safe and do-able trip with an opportunity to immerse ourselves in Squamish culture and teachings.
I think it’s about ripping the band-aid off and just jumping in. I think everybody will have, like, self-doubt say, can I do this? Am I strong enough? Do I have the right to take this space in a spotlight? I think it’s all about being comfortable with that. Because I think Indigenous people were just really shoved in the dark for so long that we’re really uncomfortable with that spotlight and that chance to come and take up that space.
Skookum Participant
Reflection Moment
It’s natural to feel uncomfortable when facing our participation in systemic racism. To make health and social services safer for our Indigenous neighbours, it’s important to lean into that discomfort.
What can you learn from your discomfort? What comes up for you as you sit with your discomfort?
Awakening the Path
April 2024
Beecher Place, Crescent Beach – Semiahmoo
The last of our gatherings took us closer to water at Beecher Place in Semiahmoo. As we sat ourselves in circle one last time before venturing into practice, the view of the open ocean through the windows embraced us. If we listened closely, we could hear the lapping waves calling us to the water.
I think for a lot of people who are set up to be allies and wanting to learn more about Indigenous people … I think you really have to show up and be in community and learn how we do it. So because I’ve watched many people do community really well when they’re not Indigenous, and come into the community, and they really just listen, be in community, and take up only the amount of space that they need, and just listen and really, really listen, and they just are such an amazing part of community now.
Skookum Participant
After the first three gatherings, participants were becoming more comfortable with the upcoming journey yet still clustering to their own Skookum or service providers communities.
At Skookum Lab, they often use artwork as a way to occupy participants’ hands to help them engage deeper. We brought this practice to our gathering in the form of a cedar rose weaving activity in the hopes that participants could let down their guard and get to know each other better. We also invited folks to take a casual walk together along a waterside path before the cedar roses workshop.
What we learned was that the colonizers, their way of ruling was divide and rule. So you divided the population, and then you increase your own power by splitting the power of the people. … And so I mean the best thing that could happen in that case is all people are able to come together to be able to understand each other and get down to interacting with each other at a human level, rather than remaining divided within the communities. And like I said, I mean that kind of a connection can only happen when people do things together. And generally people are not again, for a lack of a word that people are not brave enough to make that effort to come together.
Health/Social Service Participant
Reflection Moment
Take a moment to reflect on the following question .
What needs to happen in order for urban Indigenous communities and service providers to come together?
A New Route
Over the four months since our last gathering, we re-thought our planned canoe route and decided we’d journey to Camp Fircom on Chá7elkwnech (Gambier Island) in the unceded, traditional, and ancestral territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation).
With this new route and a closer but still hesitant community, we were ready to practice our learnings.
Paddling Together Towards a Skookum Surrey Team:
Lyana Patrick
Principal Investigator
Dawn Hoogeveen
Co-Investigator
Brian Egan
Research Manager
Sherry Williams
Community Liaison
Krystal Dumais
Community Research Associate
Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe
Research Assistant
Ilhan Abdullahi
PhD Student
Chiaxsten (Wes Nahanee)
Canoe Skipper
Ruby Marks
Elder Advisor
We would like to acknowledge people who contributed to the project in earlier stages or in other ways:
Devin Waugh
Research Staff
Dahlia Al-Ahmad
Videographer
Aspen Shima
Videographer
Marissa Nahanee
Graphic Artist
Stephanie Hall
Knowledge Mobilization Designer
Thank you to the following organizations for their support:
Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee
Fraser Health
(Aboriginal Health)
Surrey Indigenous Youth Advisory Committee
City of Surrey
Surrey School District
Travelling the River towards a Skookum Surrey draws on research supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
