Paddle to Muckleshoot: Honoring Our Warriors of Past and Present
I recently had the privilege of attending the Paddle to Muckleshoot 2023 in what is today called “Seattle” on Occupied Duwamish Territory.
Indigenous Tribes from the Northwest and beyond paddled their ancestral Salish Sea waterways as they have since time immemorial for a weeklong celebration of heritage and culture hosted by the Muckleshoot Tribe. On July 30th, around 100 canoes landed at Alki Beach in Seattle as Muckleshoot hosts the Inter-Tribal Canoe Journey for the first time since 2006!
Since I am unable to give context that is any more eloquent than the People it is about, I shall borrow their words of identity: the Duwamish ancestors were this land’s first caretakers. Like Muckleshoot Tribal members today, they lived in Seattle and communities between the Cascade Mountains and Salish Seas. As a sovereign Tribal nation led by an elected council, they actively invest in their community, sustain the environment, and contribute to regional economy. Their commitment to protecting their people and communities brought them through the Tribe’s darkest times and continues to guide them today as they move into a new era of prosperity and empowerment. Their dedication to self-reliance, securing their rights, and upholding their sovereignty has never been stronger.
