Sinixt Canoe Journey

The Sinixt canoe on the water during a rainy day on lower Arrow Lake.

This past summer I had the amazing privilege of joining a group of Sinixt people on their canoe journey in a traditional dugout canoe down the Columbia River, from Revelstoke to Kettle Falls.

The journey was part of a celebration, marking the Supreme Court of Canada's decision to reverse their 1956 declaration stating that the Sinixt people were extinct. Known as the Arrow Lakes tribe in the United States, they are one of the tribes of the Colville Confederated Tribes of Washington State.

The trip ended at Kettle Falls where the Sinixt Canoe was joined by canoes from a number of other local tribes. Together they held a salmon ceremony on the shores of the reservoir that drowned Kettle Falls on the Columbia River. As was mentioned at the event, salmon haven't been able to make it to that location for 75 years, but they are carrying on the ceremony as part of their efforts to restore these fish to the Upper Columbia.

Photos taken on Sinixt Traditional Territory.

Arrow Lakes Cultural Facilitator Shelly Boyd leading a gathering of paddlers from different upper Columbia River tribes at Kettle Falls.

Dugout canoe and a sturgeon nose canoe on Arrow Lakes.

Sinixt descendant Fiona Fitzpatrick in the middle of the canoe looks out across the water while paddling.

Watching canoes from various tribes head out across the reservoir on the Columbia at the local where Kettle Falls used to be.

The Sinixt Canoe landing as part of the salmon ceremony at Kettle Falls with Shelly Boyd at the front of the canoe.

As a show of respect for the canoes, they are carefully lifted out of the water. This canoe is carved from an old growth cedar log.

Many hands make easier work carrying the Canoe.

Richard Whitney stands behind his mentor Rick Desautel, where they are cooking salmon over the fire for the ceremony at Kettle Falls.

Richard Whitney looks out over the still waters where Kettle Falls once roared on the Columbia.