Canoe Journey in the United States

Greenpeace Canada Executive Director Joanna Kerr pulls aboard the Squamish Nation - Greenpeace canoe "Soaring Eagle." Greenpeace USA volunteer Harmony Lambert is at right.

Restrictions

Images to be used to discuss building relationships with Indigenous groups, the fight against coal terminals in the Pacific Northwest and related topics

Unique identifier: GP0STQAHC

Type: Image

Shoot date: 29/07/2016

Locations: North America, United States of America, Washington (state)

Credit line: © Steve Dipaola / Greenpeace

Ranking: ★★★★ (E)

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Greenpeace Joins Squamish Canoe Families on the 2016 Canoe Journey

Canoe journeys are one of the largest traditional gatherings of indigenous people anywhere in the world, with Native peoples traveling from Hawaii, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and South America. As many as 84 canoes from 50 tribes and Canadian First Nation groups have participated in recent journeys.
In 2014, Greenpeace joined the Green Team — a Canoe Journey initiative to reduce waste by organizing recycling and compost collection — in Bella Bella, British Columbia for the multi-day event. We were then formally challenged by Chief Bill Williams, one of 16 hereditary chiefs of the Squamish Nation, to get into a canoe and pull (paddle) at the 2016 Canoe Journey.
We were humbled by this honor and have responded to the challenge by joining the Squamish Canoe Family this year with a larger team of Greenpeace USA and Greenpeace Canada staff and local organizers. We are excited to participate and deepen our learning of Coast Salish culture, strengthen our collaborations to protect the ocean, and fight the drivers and local impacts of climate change.

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