For those of us who’ve been fortunate enough to travel on canoe journeys here on the west coast of Canada within the traditions of the First Nations culture, these words have meaning to us. The mere sight of that phrase “We’re tired and hungry” conjures up visceral memories in each of us. We’ve been in this canoe.
It is customary when one travels by canoe from one First Nations community to another to do so in a proper and good way. That means, as a canoe comes ashore in new territory, on some Nation’s land, it’s done within the proper traditional protocols of the canoe culture. Your canoe approaches the shore and the people of the territory are waiting on the beach; but never do you touch the shore without first asking their permission. Your canoe, and the crew, with paddles held high and standing off a few feet from shore, first need to be identified and introduced. Through your canoe spokesperson, you inform those on shore where you’ve come from and where your journey will ultimately take you. The Chief, or some other high-ranking person, will speak to your crew and, hopefully, welcome you ashore to share food, stories and lodging. Then, with permission granted, your canoe is turned around and you come to shore stern first. It’s the culturally respectful way to do things. And those of us who’ve done this over the past 20 years or so have practiced and respected this ancient tradition and protocol each and every time we travel on the water.
Your day perhaps began 10 or 11 hours ago. Perhaps you’ve endured wind, tide, open water, turbulence, heat, rain or cold. Your body and your mind have been tested and stretched to the limit. These welcoming ceremonies, depending on the number of canoes in a given fleet, can take even hours to play out. And, though I personally have never experienced being refused permission to come ashore, a canoe can be refused that permission.
And so what about the title I gave this image? Each canoe is represented by someone standing to speak to the waiting delegation on shore. That spokesperson speaks in a voice to be heard by all. As we all wait, with our paddles held high on the gunnels, in eager anticipation of being able to beach the canoe and stand on the firm ground for the rest of the day, many speakers open their introductions by identifying the canoe, telling the crowd where we’ve come from, and then come the inevitable words of our plea to put our canoe on their beach.
“We’re tired and hungry. May we please come ashore?”
