In Coast Salish territory we have two types of canoes. Traveling canoes, which are used on Canoe Journey, were traditionally built to carry families and their supplies for hundreds of miles on the traditional highways known as the Salish Sea waterways and beyond. They are large and wide in design to be able to withstand waves and harsh waters without tipping. The other type of canoes are known as war canoes. War canoes are sleek and agile and are built for speed and to be able to turn on a dime, or rather around a buoy.
Today we are focusing on war canoes. If you walk through tribal government buildings at Lummi, Nooksack, Swinomish, and Tulalip, as well as many other Coast Salish tribes along the coastline, such as Suquamish, Makah, and Quinault, you will see historical photos of the resurgence of war canoe racing in the 1900s. As a young Native growing up on the Lummi Indian Reservation, I often heard stories from the “good old days” when our aunts and great-aunts would race other aunties and great-aunts from other tribes and the battles that they would have on the water and what was a foul play or not during those days. I heard about what it takes to be a tough paddler, about the daily commitment to be at the beach by 5 p.m. to start the miles-long run at the beginning of canoe practice.
As the name denotes, war canoes have a history of being the vessel that would protect a community of a village. In the early 1900s, Natives and White communities collaborated to showcase the canoe way of life and highlight Indian culture, thus beginning the start of war canoe racing into more modern times. Penn Cove Canoe races are an example of these longstanding races from the 1930s.
Today we have world-renowned championship canoe clubs in Coast Salish territory like the Rikkole Cree Canoe Club from Nooksack Tribe. Canoe racing is a very serious sport and endeavor with some canoe clubs training year round. Clubs like Rikkole Cree and Autumn Rose Canoe Club have gone around the world to race in outrigger competitions. Please see the short film made in partnership with Setting Sun Circle titled ‘Rikkole Cree Canoe Club – Nooksack Tribe’.
Reflection Questions:
- We learn a lot from the elders and older support people in our lives. What stories from the “good old days” do you remember hearing often as a child?
- After reading this post and watching the short film, what other questions do you have about war canoe racing?
- Do you plan on attending any of the war canoe races during the 2025 spring and summer seasons?
