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PADDLES UP
All Nations
All Nations is proudly
drug, alcohol, & violence free.​
Youth under 15 wishing to participate in our paddles must be accompanied by an adult over 18.
Please respect our rules.
Strengthening The Spirit
Having made the difficult decision to keep our canoe off the water for Tribal Journeys, All Nations remains dedicated to hosting two fabulous pulls. Strengthening the Spirit (normally Annual Awaken the Canoes) will be held the last weekend in June (June 27, 28, 29, 30) and will include the Canoe Olympics Cold Water Training Day. Strong Women of the Water will take place in September.
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We look forward to seeing everyone next month and wish you all safe travels wherever your canoe takes you.
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Emote!
Please note:
The All Nations -Strong Women of the Water Canoe will NOT be participating in the
2025 Tribal Journeys Paddle to Elwha.
Tribal Journeys 2025
Paddle to Elwha
The final landing is expected to be on July 31 with protocol beginning August 1st and continuing until August 5th. For the most up-to-date and accurate information on Tribal Journeys 2025 Paddle to Lower Elwha, please contact Melanie Wheeler.
2025 Strong Women of the Water
A 2nd Canoe Has Been Added
To register email All Nations
An overwhelming response to Strong Women of the Water has enabled us to add a second canoe. Once again registration is open for the September event which will depart Vancouver BC on September 12th. Please contact All Nations if you are interested in participating.
2025 Women's
Memorial March
The 2025 Women's Memorial March in Vancouver, British Columbia will take place on February 14. The March honors missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S+). It also protests violence, racism, inequality, and class disparity.
What to expect: The March will begin at the intersection of Main and Hastings streets and will proceed through downtown Vancouver. We will pause at locations where women's bodies were found and the names of the women and their family members will be read aloud. Family and supporters will pause to grieve.
Why it's important: The March keeps the memories of missing and murdered women alive and demands accountability from governments and systems that perpetuate violence. The March aims to prevent further violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people
History: The march began in 1992 in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside after the murder of Cheryl Ann Joe, a local Indigenous woman
2025 All Nations
Paddle Schedule
Strengthening the Spirit (normally Annual Awaken the Canoes) will be held the last weekend in June (June 27, 28, 29, 30) and will include the Canoe Olympics Cold Water Training Day.
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All Nations Paddles Up will not be participating in the 2025 Tribal Journeys Paddle to Elwha.
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The Annual Strong Women of the Water will be held Sept 12th through 15th, departing from Vancouver's Maritime Museum. A second canoe has been added - registration will reach capacity in the next four weeks - register today if you are wanting to join us.
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If you would like to register a canoe for Awaken the Canoes or Strong Women of the Water, please contact us at allnationspaddlesup@gmail.com
So much more
than a paddle...
The All Nations Canoe program is so much more than a paddle. Our schedule is designed to allow for interactive activities where participants can learn or master skills, or share their expertise with the fellow pullers. Pictured here are Robin and Ruth crafting their medicine bags following a morning canoe pull in Alert Bay.
We welcome you to share your skills with the group - from cooking, to cedar work, to drumming and singing, to weaving, and more. Reach out and let us know if you are interested in hosting a session!
The Strong Women of the Water canoe will begin the 2025 season will a new complete set of paddles that honour the remarkable women who have inspired us. Eighteen members of our canoe family each provided up to four names which were inscribed on their new paddle.
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Our canoe family is honoured to carry these women and their stories on our journey. We do so with utmost respect and humility.
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Our deepest appreciation goes to Brice Malcom who oversaw the project and put his hands on each and every paddle to ensure they were done as envisioned. Emote.
New Paddles Honour
Inspirational Women
Emote - Huy ch Qu -
Gilakas'la - Thank you
It really does take a village!
All Nations extends its sincerest appreciation to all those individuals and organizations who have help launch our 2024 season aboard the Strong Women of the Water Canoe, especially:
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Tsawout Nation, Cowichan Tribe, Stz'uminus First Nation, Snuneymuxw Nation, Qualicum First Nation Campground, Snaw-Naw-As Campground, French Creek Marina, North Sannich Fuel Dock, Parkland Burnaby Refinery, True North, Hullo Ferry, Pacific Association of First Nations Women, and Captain Randy Sonnier and the crew of the Pearl.
We would also like to acknowledge our All Nations canoe family members who go the extra mile to ensure we are able to provide the best experience for our participants. Emote to the cooks, shoppers, and road crew who make everything possible.
We literally could not have done this without you! Emote!​​
All Nations
Strong Women of the Water Canoe
In 2018, Klahoose Elder Billy Barnes bestowed the name Strong Women of the Water to a group of pullers arriving in Port Townsend , Washington, enroute to Puyallup's Tribal Journeys.
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The women carry this sacred name with great pride and each year since, welcome others to join the Strong Women of the Water (and the men who support them) pull.
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Now, thanks to the generosity of All Nations supporters, we have placed our order for a new 36" Pacific Dance Canoe The Strong Women of the Water Canoe will arrive in time for Awaken the Canoes this spring.
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Emote - Hu Huy ch-qu. Thank you to all those who made this amazing purchase possible.
All Nations is pleased to welcome back Captain Randy Sonnier and the Crew of the Pearl who will once again be providing on the water support for the 2025 Strong Women of the Water Canoe season.
MUCKLESHOOT PROTOCOL:
THE COMPETITION SONG
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Sister Nations Klahoose, Tl'amin and Homalco brought their signature song to the floor during protocol. Always a favorite among the crowd, you be the judge...who has bragging rights this year, the Men or the Women?
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