Canoes for reconciliation land on Coquitlam shores

A dozen canoes are making their way through the traditional territories of numerous First Nations as part of the 25th annual Pulling Together Canoe Journey – including a stop yesterday on the shores of Coquitlam.

Verna Kate Smith, co-chair of the 2026 planning committee, was delighted to see the canoes finally enter the Fraser River on Aug. 17, including one from the Tsawwassen First Nation, which was participating in the journey for the first time in many years.

“There are a few others that will hopefully come and join us one day,” Smith said. “No rush on them; they’ll come back when they are ready.”

The annual Pulling Together journey promotes healing, reconciliation, and respect for Indigenous host nations, as well as the sharing of cultures with Indigenous cultures. The Aug. 15 to 22 journey — Reclaiming Our Waters — began in the Agassiz area, in the Sts’ailes First Nation.

Members of the Sts’Ailes First Nation thanked the Pulling Together Canoe Journey for visiting their territory, saying the event builds and strengthens relationships between Indigenous Peoples, police and government.

The journey continued Tuesday with a stop on Katzie First Nation territory (Barnston Island) before the pullers set up camp at Kwikwetlem First Nation.

On Wednesday, Aug. 19, the journey continued to Wellington Point in Delta. Along the way, the canoes will pass by Sapperton Landing Park in New Westminster, where participants will do a traditional “paddles up” for representatives of Qayqayt First Nation.

Other stops include Wellington Point Park in Delta, where the Tsawwassen First Nation will host a Legacy Culture Day on Aug. 20 to celebrate the journey’s 25th anniversary.

Pullers will travel from Wellington Point to Tsawwassen on Aug. 21, where they will have a closing circle to mark the end of this year’s anniversary journey.

More than 220 pullers, including Indigenous Peoples, youth, police, and public service personnel are taking part in the 25th annual Pulling Together canoe journey.

“This journey marks 25 years of reconciliation,” said Betty Kruger-Cardenas, president of the Pulling Together Canoe Society. “As we paddle together, work together, and camp together, we also learn together, which strengthens our relationships and hopefully lays the foundation for a better future for all of us.”

Since 2001, Indigenous communities have partnered with police and other provincial and federal agencies, including RCMP, Vancouver Police and the Royal Canadian Navy for the annual journey. Public agencies involved this year include the Royal Canadian Navy, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Indigenous Policing Services, West Vancouver and Vancouver police departments, Stantec, the Justice institute of B.C. and Simon Fraser University.

The event was inspired by the 1997 Vision Quest Journey along B.C.’s west coast, which saw Indigenous Peoples and the RCMP visiting indigenous communities along the way.