​
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.
The All Nations Canoe will be taking the West Coast Route to Lower Elwha. All pullers MUST attend Awaken the Canoes for Cold Water Training.
DRAFT SHEDULE Version 1
Tribal Journeys 2025 Paddle to Elwha
Canoe Families...this draft schedule for the 2025 Tribal Journeys Paddle to Elwha was created at the recent Tribal Journeys meeting held in Lummi on February 1st. It is the first draft with dates and/or stops likely to change. Please check back for the most updated schedule.
MAP
2025 Strong Women of the Water
THIS EVENT IS NOW AT CAPACITY To be added to the waitlist email All Nations
2025 Women's
Memorial March
​
The Strong Women of the Water Canoe has chosen to travel down the outside of the
West Coast of Vancouver Island, from Ahousaht to Lower Elwha. If you are interested in joining us, please email allnationspaddlesup@gmail.com for details on the next All Nations Paddles Up meeting.
​
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
The 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.
​
2025 Tribal Journeys Paddle to Elwha will depart Ahousaht on July 21, landing in Elwha on August 1st.
​
The Annual Strong Women of the Water will be held Sept 12th through 14th, departing from Vancouver's Maritime Museum. Registration will reach capacity in the next four weeks - register today if you are wanting to join us.
​
If you would like to register a canoe for Awaken the Canoes or Strong Women of the Water, or would like to join the Strong Women of the Water canoe, please contact us at allnationspaddlesup@gma.com
2025 Paddle Season
The Strong Women of the Water Canoe has a number of pulls planned for the 2025 season, including the Annual Awaken the Canoes (June), Tribal Journeys 2025 Paddle to Elwha (July/August), and Strong Women of the Water (September).
​
If you are interested in joining with us on the water, please let us know. As always, the Strong Women of the Water Pull is expected to be at capacity by February so if you would like to attend, register by e-mailing allnationspaddlesup@gmail.com today. Space is limited.
​
We look forward to seeing you all soon!
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.
​
Our canoe family is honoured to carry these women and their stories on our journey. We do so with utmost respect and humility.
​
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:
​
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.
​
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.
​
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.
​
Emote - Hu Huy ch-qu. Thank you to all those who made this amazing purchase possible.
Strong Women of the Water Closes the All Nations 2023 Canoe Season
An amazing and diverse delegation of pullers joined with All Nations for the final pull of the 2023 season. For the most part, weather cooperated and the group was treated to a few beautiful sunrises during the four day event. Two humpback whales put on an unforgettable show, breaching out of the water in an incredibly display of power.
As always, we thank our organizers, cooks, funders, and the crew of the Pearl who towed the canoe hundreds of miles from Washington State to Fort Rupert. Emote as well to Jonnica Royal who skipped and to
Steven Recalma for the use of Singing Coho.
​
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
​
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?
​
