Pulling
Together – 2011
For the
first time in its eleven year history the hulls of the PULLING
TOGETHER canoes touched the open ocean waters of the west
coast of Vancouver Island.
From July 2nd to July 8th our
canoes plied the waters of Clayoquot Sound, the Broken Group
of Islands and a small portion of Port Alberni Inlet.
We visited such communities as Tofino, Ahoushat,
Opitsaht, Ucluelet, Ittatsoo, Macoah, Bamfield, Anacla and
Huu-ay-aht. Our
journey finished in Port Alberni with the Tseshaht and
Hupacasath First Nations families.
Our
adventures found us compelled to perform surf landings and
launches. We experienced rain, warm inviting sunshine and wind.
Ocean swells altered our mere human schedule and at
times we needed to be towed – safety first always.
What we experienced though was truly awesome and
profound at times. To
paddle in ocean swells in such historic waters, with the open
ocean to one side, is something that few people in modern
times experience. The creator and the elements planned a perfect journey for
all of us. It was
to be sure the most ambitious and complex journey of all
PULLING TOGETHER journeys, perhaps never to be equaled in our
history. Organized
by Cst. Boyd Pearson of the Port Alberni RCMP, it will go down
in PULLING TOGETHER history as “one of the good ones”.
Our hands go up to all of those who supported us both
on the water and off.
Pulling
Together – 2010
From
July 1st to July 9th, 2010 the canoes of
PULLING TOGETHER once again came amassed for a very unique
journey.
Known as “The
Salish Sea Journey”,
this year’s event was organized by the Renfrew Collingwood
Aboriginal Youth Canoe Club.
In effect, this journey circumnavigated the Greater
Vancouver area.
Perhaps more significant though is the fact that this
is the year that the waters of Georgia Straight were
officially changed to “The Salish Sea”.
Our journey of about 140 kilometers celebrated and
honoured that important name change.
For the most part we enjoyed good weather and fair
seas.
Our journey took us from Ioco, the Tsleil-Waututh
territory at the far end of
Burrard Inlet, to the land of the Squamish in West
Vancouver.
From there we traveled to Musqueam, a community often
visited by PULLING TOGETHER, and then on to Gary Point in
Richmond.
Our next destination was Tsawwassen First Nation.
It actually became our camping home for three nights as
we commuted in “the other world” to and from our waiting
canoes each day.
And finally, we paddled from Crescent Beach to White
Rock and Semiahmoo First Nation where such canoes had not
arrived for over 50 years.
At times our fleet and ground crew numbered over 300
people.
As we look back on this year’s journey we’ll
reflect on one of rich culture and high emotion.
Many hearts were touched by PULLING TOGETHER and the
good work it does.
We look forward to next year with eager anticipation.
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Pulling
Together – 2009
This years journey was
organized by the RCMP "E" Division Aboriginal Police
Services with the assistance of the Penticton RCMP. The
Penticton Indian Band were our main hosts. The journey began
at the north end of Okanagan Lake, with stops at Fintry,
Westbank and Penticton. This was the largest journey with 22
canoes joining in from many different areas, including
Vancouver Is., Gibson's, Tsawwassen, Semiamoo, Katzie,
Chehalis, Penticton, South Similkameen. Agency canoes
represented the RCMP, Abbotsford Police, Vancouver Police,
Federal Fisheries, Circle of Eagles, and Collingwood Canoe
Club. the Penticton Indian Band did an outstanding job in
hosting a very large number of people, providing meals and a
PowWow for the pullers. The final day of the journey saw the
canoes travel the length of Skaha Lake to Okanagan Falls.
Pulling
Together – 2008
The usual large group of
people working together for months organized this year’s six
day Journey. Abbotsford Police, represented by then Inspector
John Davidson, he has since retired, and Cst Carrie Durocher
chaired this year’s committee. This journey would, for
the most part, retrace the original course of 2001. This
time starting from Hope rather than Yale, it would find itself
finishing on Canada Day in Gibsons. Highlighting this
journey was a very powerful Fraser River, perhaps the most
powerful these journeys have seen. The River was in full
freshet. We enjoyed good weather, wonderful cultural
experiences and welcomed the largest contingent yet to travel
as a group on our journey. Our numbers were about 250 at
their peak. Communities visited this year were Seabird
Island, Shxwha:y (Chilliwack), Mission, Kwantlen, Katzie,
Kwantlen, Kwikwetlem, Musqueam and Gibsons.
Pulling Together -
2007
Organized
by Constable Bruce Ballingal, New Westminster Police
Department, and Clare Cameron of the Vancouver Circle of
Eagles Society, this year’s journey saw over 150
participants travel from New Westminster to Victoria. Forming up in New Westminster on June 23rd and
departing from just below the Port Mann bridge the next day,
the first few days were plagued with deluges of rain, wind and
even lightening and thunder.
Finishing on July 1st in Victoria harbour in
bright sunshine, the fleet was greeted by thousands of
jubilant crowds celebrating Canada’s birthday in British
Columbia’s capital. Communities
visited on this year’s journey included Deas Island,
Tsawwassen, Maple Bay, Cowichan Bay, Tsartlip, Tsawout and
Songhees.
Mini
Pulling Together - 2007 - Sunday Sept 15, 2007
Once
again, Judy White organized a mini Pulling Together event.
This time there were two canoes involved and about 15 local
First Nations youth, unattached to the Sechelt Band.
Leaving Gibson's Harbour early in the morning, they
circumnavigated Keats Island, stopping for lunch, teachings
and just for the sheer fun of it. Blessed with a sunny
day, all enjoyed a time of culture, experienced on that day.
already plans are being made for next year's one day Pulling
Together event for younger First Nations children.
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Pulling Together - 2006
June
of 2006 saw Pulling Together move to different waters.
Organized by Insp. Eric Grummisch and Insp. Vinnie
Forsberg of the Vancouver City Police, PULLING TOGETHER - 2006
commenced in Powell River, the home territory of the Sliammon
Nation. This was
the first Pulling Together journey totally on ocean waters.
After gathering together on Saturday, June 24th
at Sliammon, a fleet of perhaps 10 canoes and 150 people,
embarked on their actual paddling journey on the morning of
Monday, June 26th from Powell River.
Over the next six days the canoes found their way to
the territory of the Sechelt Nation, with overnight stops in
Egmont and Sechelt. From
Sechelt the canoes made their way to Gibsons and the waters of
the Squamish Nation. After
an overnight in Gibsons, the fleet departed for their final
pull to the waters of the Squamish, Burrard and Musqueam
Nations, their destination being Spanish Banks in Vancouver
Harbour.
Mini
Pulling Together - 2005 - Sunday Sept 17, 2006
It
was a first. After several years of knowing it had to be done somewhere,
Judy White has done it. Judy
works with unattached First Nations kids in Gibsons, BC.
These are First Nations kids not of the local Squamish
or Sechelt Bands. All
under the age of 16, they had shown an interest in
participating in, and experiencing a PULLING TOGETHER event.
To that end, Judy and a large group of volunteers and
parents put together a one day MINI PULLING TOGETHER event.
Gathering at 7:30 AM, about a dozen of these young
people boarded three canoes at the Gibsons Marina.
Though the day was blustery and rainy, the canoes
traveled the waters of Howe Sound until about 2:30 PM.
The
three canoes were from the RCMP, the Vancouver City Police and
the Urban Native Youth Association of downtown Vancouver.
Led by cultural teachers and leaders, the youth
experienced a full day of PULLING TOGETHER on the water, then
they were taken to a local beach house for a feast of salmon,
bannock and other traditional foods.
Gifts were given, lessons were taught and laughter
prevailed. By the time their day was over at about 8:00PM and the tired
group went home already looking forward to next year’s
event.
This
is an important part of PULLING TOGETHER history.
It has opened the doors to the young pullers not able
to tackle the arduous demands of the bigger journeys.
What it has done though is kindle an interest in the
young people. Many
of them have already committed to being prepared for the big
journey when they are old enough and strong enough to tackle
it. The door is
open too to other communities and organizations to put
together their own MINI PULLING TOGETHER events with their
local police and First Nations community.
Pulling Together - 2005
Pulling Together 2005 was planned by the RCMP. The
trip started on Harrison Lake, with a two day camp to practice
and prepare for the journey. The trip started with a short
paddle to Harrison Hotel, where after an overnight stay, the
canoes continued on to the Chehalis Band for an overnight
stay. A long journey to Hatzic was completed, followed
by a day layover at the XA:YTEM Interpretive Centre (Hatzic
Rock) where the pullers participated in numerous cultural
events and feasts. The final leg of the journey was made to
Fort Langley for July 1st celebrations and ceremonies at the
historic Fort Langley. Numerous presentations were made at
this site, followed by a feast at the Kwantlen nation prior to
everyone departing for another year.
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Pulling Together - 2004
This year's event was planned and organized by Insp. John Davidson of the Abbotsford Police Department. Beginning in late June, the journey started from Harrison Lake, at the beach in front of the famous Harrison Hotel. It
travelled from the lake, down the Harrison River, into the Fraser and ultimately to the Deas Island slough. The full dress uniform and regalia stop at New Westminster on July 1 st was received by a large crowd at the docks. Then the group participated in the Canada Day celebrations at Queens Park. Of note here is the fact that the New Westminster City Police participated for the first time in the PULLING TOGETHER journey.
From Deas Island Slough the canoes were transported by trailer to Port Moody where they were again put into the water and paddled the distance to the final destination of this year's journey down Burrard Inlet to officially terminate at Stanley Park in downtown Vancouver. This was the first year of participation by the CP Police, who also assisted in sending the RCMP canoe Skookum Kalitan to Ontario for their inaugural PULLING TOGETHER journey.
(Note: On August 17, 2004 PULLING TOGETHER was incorporated as a Society by the Province of British Columbia. This organization is now known as PULLING TOGETHER CANOE SOCIETY))
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Pulling Together - 2004 (Ontario)
In 2002 a civilian, Mr. George Fenn, came from Ontario to British Columbia to participate in that year's Fraser River Journey. Completely taken with the experience, Fenn returned to Ontario and began contacting police forces in that province and encouraging them to develop their own Pulling Together journeys. His efforts resulted in a police officer attending the next year's Fraser River journey. The police officer who attended the Pulling Together 2003 was an RCMP member from Ontario. So impressed was Cst. Eric Crow with what he experienced, he went back to Ontario in the summer of 2003 and began planning an Ontario Pulling Together program. Their inaugural journey took place in late July and early August of 2004. It happened in the waters around Peterborough, Ontario, in the traditional territory of the Ojibwa nation. From Curve Lake First Nations Reserve to Alderville First Nations Reserve, the journey spanned over 100 kilometers of paddling.
As this was the first time for such a journey in that Province, and as its birthplace was here in British Columbia, the RCMP canoe, Skookum Kalitan traveled by CP Rail and participated in the inaugural Pulling Together - 2004, Ontario journey.
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Pulling Together 2003
The overall co-ordinator for the journey this year was the West Vancouver Police Department, in the person of Cst. Trish Lee. She was assisted by Nathan Wilson of the Tsawwassen First Nation. It would start on the Fraser River just downstream from Agassiz and terminate in West Vancouver.
Those police agencies taking part were RCMP, Delta Police, Vancouver Police, Abbotsford Police, West Vancouver Police and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
Again, the overall focus was to improve the police relations with the First Nation people with the added focus to include youth that are at risk. The contingent raised funds for the journey by police agency contributions, selling of T-shirts and personal contributions from each participant. The contingent also asked members of the community to sponsor youth from their respective communities. For the first time, with this initiative in mind, Rotary Clubs began to participate by providing funding, and even sending some paddlers along.
Pulling Together 2003 arrived at Ambleside beach in West Vancouver on July 1 st , Canada Day and was included in the community celebrations. Thousands of people greeted the flotilla as it arrived on that day with all paddlers in full dress police uniform and First Nation regalia
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Pulling Together 2002
The participating police agencies were the RCMP, Abbotsford Police, Delta Police, West Vancouver Police and the Vancouver Police. The overall coordinator for the journey was Sgt. Jeff Sim of the Vancouver Police Department. This journey would be the first for the Vancouver Police Department's newly purchased ocean-going canoe, a youth initiative program.
The focus of the journey was to include youth that are at risk. The Pulling Together contingent was much larger than the year before with many school districts, First Nations people and other interested members of the community involved in the planning of the event. The journey took place from Hope, at the mouth of the Coquihalla River, to West Vancouver, BC.
The contingent realized the enormous opportunity to contribute back to the communities. The Pulling Together Participants contributed from their own pockets and also raised money by selling T-shirts. In addition, contributions were made by each police agency. In total the contingent raised $5,800.00. The money was used to buy contingent gifts that were presented to the host communities, Search and Rescue and a cheque was presented to the host community for First Nation youth initiative based programs.
Once again the contingent was honored with the presence of canoes from the First Nation communities such as:
-Katzie First Nation;
-Sk'way First Nation;
-Tsawwassen First Nation;
-Squamish First Nation;
-The Harry family canoe (Squamish First Nation); and
-Circle of Eagles canoe.
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Pulling Together 2001
The participating police agencies were the RCMP, West Vancouver Police and the Vancouver Police. The participating agencies then started planning portions of the journey individually with the First Nation Communities within their police agency jurisdictions. Thus this canoe journey was named Pulling Together. The lead organizing police agency this first year was the RCMP, and the meetings were chaired by S/Sgt Hill.
The journey took place from Yale to Gibsons, BC. The Pulling Together contingent made stops to the many First Nation communities along the Fraser River. Each community visited by the contingent hosted, the First Nation people shared their culture and traditional foods. For some of the communities it was the first time in over a hundred years seeing the canoes in their territory. For all that participated in the Pulling Together journey, the experience was once in a lifetime and for some participants a first hand experience witnessing the First Nation culture.
The Squamish and Tsawwassen First Nations each brought their Nation's canoes to pull along with the contingent which was an extreme honor.
(NOTE: This first year of Pulling Together saw close to 100 paddlers come down the Fraser. There were numerous canoes required, canoes that we didn't have. In this, and every year, a man by the name of Chris Cooper made the journeys possible. Chris's company, Chris Coopers' Wilderness Adventures Unlimited supplied many and numerous canoes as required. In all cases these canoes were supplied free of charge. These first journeys could not have happened without his generous and experienced assistance.)
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