Peninsula College's Studium Generale is excited to present, Lifting the Old Ways: Memories of the 1989 Paddle to Seattle and its Legacy.
This all-day event is dedicated to the education about and the sharing of various Native Indigenous experiences from 1989's first-ever canoe journey—the Paddle to Seattle. The 1989 intertribal canoe journey is the story of people from the Hoh River, the Quileute, and the Elwha Klallam tribes paddling indigenous canoes to Seattle, WA. Eighteen canoes participated in the 1989 journey, compared to the 100+ canoes which continue to participate in the annual canoe journey each summer. For today's indigenous children, whose summers have always celebrated this cultural canoe journey, we celebrate this journey to remember that this was not always the case.
The annual canoe journey represents a physical battle of wills, a spiritual awakening, and a community strengthening trek. The beginning would see elders filled with exuberance and the Native Indigenous youth gaining an insurmountable pride in their heritage, which has continued to nurture the foundation of the Native Indigenous communities.
Thursday, June 12 | Schedule of Events
- 10:00 am | Bringing in the Canoes
The Lower Elwha Klallam will open the day with a welcome and drum group, with their canoe featured in the College quad. The Hoh River canoe will be on display in the Little Theater. - 11:30 am | Coffee & Pastries
- 12:35 pm | Studium Generale Panel Discussion
Panelists include Joe Hudson, Hoh River tribe; Jesse Shepherd, Quileute Nation; Melissa Eyle, Quileute Nation; Liz Ward-Satiacum, Quileute Nation; Sam White, Lower Elwha Klallam; Dan Cable, Lower Elwha Klallam; Kathy Brown, Heiltsuk First Nation Canada; Neil Conklin, Port Angeles Wa. Immediately following the panel discussion, there will be a question and answer session with Tribal Elders.
All events will take place at the Port Angeles campus of Peninsula College. You may also attend the Studium Generale session via Zoom. Meeting ID: 890 7589 0152
For more information, please contact Kate Reavey, Studium Generale Coordinator, at kreavey@pencol.edu or Melissa Eyle at meyle@pencol.edu.