Six canoes holding dozens of pullers landed in Petersburg on May 29.
The travelers are from Prince of Wales Island, Ketchikan, and even the Lower 48. More than a dozen began the journey in Wrangell that same morning. Many of them use paddles they carved themselves. They’re headed to Juneau for Celebration, the largest gathering of Tlingít, Haida, and Tsimshian people in the world.
Tribal citizens, locals, and tourists filled Petersburg’s drive-down dock to greet the travelers, Tlingít robes and raincoats wrapped tight against the wind and intermittent rain.
The local tribe, the Petersburg Indian Association, organized the dock welcome. A potluck dinner followed, with singing, dancing and tables overflowing with foods from gumboots to pizza.
KFSK’s Hannah Flor was there and has this audio postcard.
The six canoes left town early the next morning, joined by Petersburg paddlers YaKunda.ein Avery Herrman Sakamoto and Kayla Perry. The group will camp as they paddle the rest of the way to Juneau, arriving just before Celebration begins on June 5.
