Paddles Up

At the mouth of the Coquitlam River, in British Columbia, Chief Ron Giesbrecht greets his visitors. They arrive by water, by canoe.

In August 2026, nearly a dozen canoes stop in the territory of kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation. As they enter, the paddlers raise their paddles. It is a sign of peace.

Members and staff of the Nation help bring each canoe ashore. That night, the paddlers camp near the Community Gardens in ƛ̓éxətəm Regional Park. The Nation serves them a meal.

The next morning, it performs a Celebration Song for them. Then it gives them bandanas and other gifts.

Not everyone in these canoes is a member of a First Nation. There are also police officers, members of the Royal Canadian Navy and staff from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

This is the Pulling Together Canoe Journey. Since 2001, it has brought together Indigenous people, youth, police and other public service workers every year.

The idea came from Ed Hill, a retired RCMP staff sergeant. He wanted to improve relations between police and First Nations. The project was inspired by a 1997 journey along the province's west coast, the Vision Quest Journey.

In 2026, it is the 25th journey. Its theme: "Reclaiming Our Waters." More than 220 paddlers take part.

The canoes leave from the territory of Sts'ailes First Nation, near Agassiz. They travel down the Harrison and Fraser Rivers. Along the way, six Nations welcome them: Matsqui, Katzie, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, Qayqayt, Tsawwassen and Musqueam.

It is no leisurely paddle. On the lower Fraser, they face strong currents, changing weather, marine traffic and tides. An RCMP boat keeps watch for safety on the water.

In New Westminster, at Sapperton Landing Park, the paddles go up again. This time, to honour representatives of Qayqayt First Nation.

A canoe from Tsawwassen First Nation is also on the journey. Its paddlers are back on the Fraser for the first time in nearly a decade. On August 21, the canoes reach Tsawwassen for a closing circle.

In the same canoe, no one moves forward alone. You have to find the other person's rhythm.

As the canoes prepared to leave for Qayqayt First Nation, a kʷikʷəƛ̓əm member said:

Reconciliation cannot be decreed: it is paddled, stroke after stroke, with others. And sometimes you can recognize it by this: you can't wait for them to come back.