It was the summer of 2012. Once again I was proud and privileged to be a part of the annual PULLING TOGETHER canoe journey. This year our journey would take us to the territory of the Sliammon First Nations near Powell River, British Columbia. Our paddling course over those six days of canoeing would take us to some beautiful locations in Desolation Sound and the journey would turn out to be one of the best yet in so many ways.
Foremost I suppose was the hospitality of the Sliammon people themselves. For the duration of the journey we would be camped at one location. For the first time in some 12 years of participating in these journeys, we’d be setting up our tents once and taking them down once. For over 250 paddlers this was a treat beyond description. It allowed us to meet and interact with the local people in a much deeper and more meaningful way than previous journeys had allowed.
The trust, friendship and hospitality of the Sliammon People will forever be something that none of us will ever forget. The sheer majesty and beauty of their territory too will be in our hearts and memories until the day we pass. Perhaps most significant and indicative of all would be the trust that these people placed in us during our stay with them. Our camp was on the waterfront on their reserve. Their beautiful community hall became our kitchen and meeting place. As we walked the village daily their open friendship was so remarkable and appreciated.
That trust was demonstrated to a pinnacle while we were on the water as a fleet in our canoes. Escorted by elders and community cultural teachers, we were told that we would be taken to many sacred and secret places. Some of these locations had been desecrated in the past, some looted. Ever mindful of their significance, the elders asked that we forever keep secret where they’d take us and even what they’d teach us. With those words spoken, over the next few days of paddling we were blessed to be trusted with many of these very special, and I might add, spiritual places. Their location and their stories will be with us alone forever.
I wanted to recognize that special journey so I simply painted a tree on a point in Desolation Sound. I’ll not tell you exactly where it is. It is real. It does exist. This image simply represents all the magic and emotion we experienced in those few glorious, sunny days of paddling. Sliammon, thank you. Your secrets stay with us. This little painting merely represents all of those wonderful “Secret Places”.
