The Vancouver Police are waking their traditional canoe in a culturally rich display of Aboriginal heritage.
On Saturday, May 3rd, at 11:00 a.m., the Vancouver Police Department will wake up its canoe in preparation for the 14th Annual “Pulling Together” Police/First Nations Canoe Journey. The ceremony will take place at the police parking lot located at 1850 Spyglass Place.
It is Coast Salish tradition that canoes be “woken up” after the winter before going out on the water. The VPD canoe, NCH’7MUT (pronounced In-CHOTE-Mote), which means “One Heart, One Mind,” will be awakened by members of the North Vancouver Squamish Nation and VPD Canoe Club. In a culturally rich display, there will be drumming, singing, and prayers by the Squamish Ocean Canoe Family. The ceremony will highlight the important relationship among the Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver’s Aboriginal community and British Columbia’s First Nations Peoples.
This year’s journey will take place from July 3rd through July 12th. There will be approximately 20 traditional canoes being paddled by law enforcement agencies and Aboriginal Peoples from across British Columbia.
The Tseycum Nation will be hosting the 2014 Pulling Together Journey in partnership with the Sidney RCMP.
The Pulling Together Canoe Society mandate is to recognize the past by pulling together to enhance understanding between Public Service Agencies and Aboriginal Peoples by canoeing the traditional highway, strengthening our future relations.
