By David Turnoy

Special to the Sounder

In late May, over a dozen Indian canoes will make a special visit to Orcas Island, representing Native Americans from different tribal nations. They will come here after visiting Lopez and San Juan Islands, spend two nights at Camp Orkila, and then travel to Lummi Island for the conclusion of this journey, called the Gathering of Eagles Canoe Encampment.

This journey will begin in Anacortes on May 22. Canoes will be paddled from Anacortes to Lopez to stay one night there, then to San Juan Island for two nights, then to Orcas for two nights, and then on to Lummi Island for the conclusion of the journey. Each island visit will be accompanied by ceremony, storytelling, and potlatch. It is being organized by Sul ka dub (Freddie Lane) and friends along with folks in the San Juans and host families at Lummi Nation. This event is an opportunity to travel the ancestral highways of the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) people in the spirit of the potlatch with song, dance and ceremony. After visiting the islands, canoes will arrive on the mainland for weekend celebrations including protocol, storytelling, and ceremony including the honoring of master carver & elder, Se-Sealth ~ Jewell Praying Wolf James of the House of Tears Carvers.

This event is coordinated by community leaders and organizers who, for the past three-years, have been eager to get back on the water and have a potlatch style gathering. The journey and encampment will be staying at Camp Orkila on Orcas on Wednesday, May 25, and Thursday, May 26, departing for Lummi Island the morning of Friday, May 27. The arrival of the canoes on Wednesday will be at about 4:00, then there will be events throughout the evening and on into Thursday. Friday morning’s departure will see another ceremony. These events will be open to the public and should be awe-inspiring in the spirit of the totem pole event last May.

Camp Orkila has generously donated food and lodging for one of the two days that the encampment will be on Orcas. We need to raise another $6,000 to cover the second day. Not only will there be at least half a dozen paddlers in each canoe, there will be a ground support crew for each canoe consisting of up to ten people who travel by vehicle from island to island to provide support. We are hoping that one way that Orcasonians will participate in the spirit of potlatch is to contribute to supporting this event. We have arranged three different 501c3 methods to contribute:

Contribute directly to Camp Orkila. Checks should be made out to YMCA Camp Orkila.

and should be mailed to: PO Box 1149

Eastsound WA 98245

Please include a note that this is to support the Gathering of Eagles Canoe Journey.

Please also indicate if you need a letter from the 501c3 saying you made a donation.

Sorry, no online means to contribute to Orkila.

Contribute through Friends of the San Juans. You can donate either online through their website or by sending a check to FOSJ, indicating that the contribution is for the Gathering of Eagles or Indian Canoe Journey. Checks can be mailed to FOSJ, PO Box 1344, FH 98250. Please note on your check that this contribution is for events on Orcas. The website for donations is https://sanjuans.org/ways-to-give/ Please indicate that this is for the Gathering of Eagles for Orcas Island.

Contribute through the Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF) to the Kids and Canoes Fund at https://oicf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create?funit_id=1146

While contributions are necessary to stage this event, there are additional ways to participate in the potlatch. It would be nice to have a gift box for each skipper containing a gas card, fresh fruit, loaf of bread, fresh jam and peanut butter, protein bars, and/or a bag of bagels. Along with this could come a hand-made wreath made out of cedar with something in bloom in it.

Here is a statement from the organizers: For the safety and well-being of our elders & traveling guests, we are requesting everyone [participants and guests] be vaccinated (and boosted) in the Spirit of public health.

If you have any questions, you can reach me at 360-376-4165 or davidgeri@rockisland.com. Your support is greatly appreciated and will make possible this unique and wonderful event.