Musqueam has often welcomed the Pulling Together fleet at the mouth of the Fraser River, but has not yet sent a team with our canoe on the full journey. Last summer, as part of the Department of Fisheries and Ocean’s canoe family, the first group from Musqueam completed a Pulling Together Canoe Journey.
This journey was very successful and natural next step is to build on the experience by developing a club that is focused on youth leadership development and cultural knowledge transfer. A small group of Musqueam community members have come together to volunteer their time to form the Musqueam Pulling Together Canoe Club.
The newly formed club has access to Musqueam’s Language and Culture Department’s canoe but will be acquiring our own related equiptment such as paddles and lifejackets. This year's journey is on Vancouver Island starting in Nanoose Bay and finishing in Tsyecum First Nation.
To make this journey a reality, the Musqueam Pulling Together Club requires assistance with the costs of registration, equipment, transportation to and from Vancouver Island, and food for the 10 day journey.
These basic resources are necessary for participation on the journey and for the growth of the Club. Musqueam Pulling Together Canoe Club is seeking a donation of supplies or funds from commercial businesses, community clubs and individuals who are willing to support our efforts so our youth can build healthy futures through strength, teamwork and heritage.
Background information:
Founded by former Staff Sergeant Ed Hill of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Pulling Together Canoe Journey has brought together Aboriginal youth and policing service workers since 2001. The focus of the ten-day Journey is to improve relationships between First Nations communities and public service agencies. The Journey gives First Nations youth an opportunity for spiritual and emotional growth by taking on the responsibility of this physical challenge through teamwork. For more information on the Pulling Together Canoe Journey: http://pullingtogether.ca
The Musqueam First Nation, located in Vancouver at the mouth of the Fraser River has a population of 1244 persons (over half living on reserve). Close to half of our population are children and youth (46 percent under the age of 24 years). They are our future and our foundation. It is fundamental for us to encourage this group to strengthen their attachment to their community, history and heritage. We believe that investing in our children and youth will help lead to a healthier future, one without the cyclical negative behaviours and actions such as violence, substance use, and mental health problems that are currently all too common in Aboriginal communities.