Dozens of school children enjoyed a day of cultural activities as Ditidaht First Nation celebrated its third annual TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) Paddle Day.
In an effort to rebuild a strong canoe culture, the staff at Ditidaht Community School have incorporated canoe training in their curriculum. They hired paddle coach Peter Amos to work with the children during the warm season.
The Ditidaht chose June 11, 2012, the National Healing Day of Reconciliation, as a way of reclaiming their love and passion for canoeing and their culture. See photos from the day here: http://www.hashilthsa.com/gallery/ditidaht-first-nation-hosts-trc-paddle-day
On the morning of June 11, everyone gathered on the shore of Nitinat Lake for a welcome and blessing ceremony before starting the canoe races.
Students and staff from Haahuupayak School, Pacheedaht First Nation and other invited guests were welcomed to Ditidaht territory on behalf of the Tyee Ha’wilth Paul Tate and the Ditidaht chief and council.
Other guests included an RCMP member and staff from the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council’s Quu’asa Program.
Ditidaht Councillor Margaret Eaton said there would have been far more visitors, like students from neighboring community schools, but the turnout was relatively low due to the rotating BC Teachers’ Strike.
Ditidaht Community School Principal Sheila McKee reminded everyone that the annual paddle day started with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, “because of all your ancestors before you; because of their strength, determination and resilience, we recognize all the good things they’ve done.”
The first canoes to race were boarded by pairs of kindergarten children, along with one older, experienced paddler. They paddled in a 100m race as friends and family cheered from the shore.
The racing continued for the rest of the morning with each age group taking turns. The races seemed to be more about having fun than winning as the kids paddled back to shore one after another, all smiles and laughter.
The older children and adults raced 1000m, or twice around the floating net pens.
For Ruby Ambrose, it was her first time in a canoe and she was a good sport about slowly making her way around the net pens with her partner.
A couple of times the pair got turned around and needed a little coaching to get back on track.
“Did you hear us laughing and singing?” she asked. The ladies sang Row, Row, Row Your Boat as they struggled to catch up with the other racers.
They came in last but, as Ambrose said, it’s all in good fun.
In their defence, the children of Ditidaht have a leg up on the competition thanks to their Ditidaht Lake Paddle Club coach, Peter Amos.
Every day during warm, non-windy months, Amos takes the kids paddling out on the lake. They are trained on paddling techniques and canoe safety using the nation’s eight canoes.
“There are 46 kids altogether from ages five to 17,” said Amos, who started out as an assistant paddle coach.
The kids train for canoe journeys and canoe races like the one at the NTC’s Tlupiich Games and the North American Indigenous Games.
They are so good at what they do that they’ve won multiple awards, including medals in the 2012 B.C. Provincial Canoe Championship.
Last year the canoe club paddled 14 km from their home to the Nitinaht Gap – the narrow channel where the lake meets the ocean. They made the long trip to greet visiting canoe journey nations.
Amos says he hosts the canoe clinics that precede the annual Tlupiich Games and he will be doing it again this year.
The Nitinaht Lake Canoe Club will soon be traveling to Regina for the North American Indigenous Games and will proudly represent their people.
While he is happy working with the children, Amos said he hopes to branch out one day and have the ability to include children from other nations in canoe training.
After a morning canoe racing, the crowd gathered at the fire pit behind the school for a wiener roast. Following lunch the children took turns making song and dance performances.
When it was time for Haahuupayak School children to perform, teacher Trevor Little told the hosts that kids would do a victory song as their way of thanking Ditidaht for the good energy they shared.
“The canoe spirit of your community encourages us to think about beginning preparations for our canoe kids now that the weather is nice,” he said.
Following the performances the kids and chaperones split up into four teams and competed against one another in a game of lahal.
Later that afternoon, Haahuupayak students planned to perform their renowned Animal Kingdom play, followed by dinner.
There had been plans to acknowledge residential school survivors that evening but those plans were postponed.
Ruby Ambrose said NTC Quu’asa staff was there to offer support and spiritual services to survivors of residential school.
A blanketing ceremony for residential school survivors was postponed because only a few survivors were able to make it back to the community.
Still, there was plenty of fun to be had as children and adults took part in an activity-packed.
