International Indigenous leaders unite at Orcas Island’s ‘Gathering of the Eagles’

By Darrell Kirk

Special to the Sounder

The tranquil waters of Orcas Island welcomed an extraordinary procession of canoes and support boats on May 21 as the fourth annual Gathering of the Eagles canoe voyage reached the historic town of Olga, bringing together indigenous leaders from across the Pacific and Africa to honor ancestral traditions and strengthen cultural bonds.

The multinational delegation included United Nations Ambassador of the Maori people Ms. Whai (Fire), South African First Nations leader Mr. Litha Booi, founder of Ancient Wisdom Africa, and Hawaiian cultural leader Kimokeo Kapahulehua, founder of the Kimokeo Foundation. Their arrival marked a pivotal moment in the weeklong journey connecting island communities throughout the San Juan archipelago.

Coordinating this remarkable gathering is Freddie Sul ka dub Lane, a veteran journalist, event organizer and former Lummi Nation council member whose vision has transformed the Esqalph etse Kwelengsen into a powerful symbol of Indigenous unity. For Lane, the journey to Orcas Island holds special significance as the ancestral home of his mother. The Xwlemi’ language phrase translates to “Gathering of the Eagles,” reflecting the soaring spirit of cultural preservation and international cooperation.

Tribal head of the Kwelengsen (Eagle Clan), Hutch Ak Whilton (Richard), participated in all ceremonial events, including the canoe landing at Olga, the traditional Potlatch celebration, and the sacred Sunrise Ceremony atop Mount Constitution, where participants welcomed the dawn with prayers and songs echoing across the Salish Sea.

The voyage, supported by Friends of the San Juans and other community partners, follows an ambitious itinerary spanning multiple islands from May 19-25. Beginning at Fidalgo and Lopez islands on May 19, the delegation progressed to San Juan Island on May 20, then Shaw and Orcas islands on May 22, before concluding at Lummi Island and the Island of Chachusen (Lummi Reservation) on May 24. The journey culminated May 25 at Squalicum Creek during the festive Ski to Sea celebrations.

At a welcoming ceremony at the Olga dock on May 21, Salmonberry School students were the first to greet the travelers. The children placed cedar boughs they had made on the canoes and officially granted access to Orcas after the voyagers asked permission to come ashore.

This year’s gathering emphasizes the universal themes of environmental stewardship, cultural preservation and the sacred relationship between indigenous peoples and waterways. As traditional canoes carved through ancestral waters, participants renewed age-old connections while forging new partnerships across continents, proving that Indigenous wisdom transcends borders and continues to guide communities toward sustainable futures.