“I want to leave you with a few
pieces of wisdom learned from Tribal Journeys. This is an excerpt from 10 Rules
of the Canoe, developed by the Quileute Canoe Contingent in 1990. These
insights are essentially rules to live by while in the canoe, but in their
simplicity and truth they are good points to remember in everyday life.
1. Every stroke we take is one
less we have to make. Keep going!
2. There is to be no abuse of
self or others. Respect and trust cannot exist in anger. It has to be thrown
overboard, so the sea can cleanse it.
3. Be flexible. The adaptable
animal survives.
 |
The Port
Gamble S’Klallam canoe
Noo Kayet nears Neah Bay
during the 2010 Paddle to
Makah.
Tad Sooter /
2010
|
4. The gift of each enriches us
all. Every story is important. The bow, the stern, the skipper, the power
puller in the middle—everyone is part of the movement.
5. We all pull and support each
other. Nothing occurs in isolation.
6. A hungry person has no
charity. Always nourish yourself. The bitter person, thinking that sacrifice
means self-destruction, shares mostly anger.
7. Experiences are not enhanced
through criticism. Who we are, how we are, what we do, why we continue flourish
with tolerance.
8. The journey is what we enjoy.
Being part of the journey requires great preparation; being done with a journey
requires great awareness; being on the journey, we are much more than
ourselves.
9. A good teacher allows the
students to learn. We can berate each other, try to force each other to
understand, or we can allow each paddler to gain awareness through the ongoing
journey.
10. When given any choice at all,
be a worker bee—make honey!”
“’To celebrate what it means to
be who we are’ | Canoe Journey,” by Jeremy Sullivan, North Kitsap Herald
[Kitsap County, Washington] July 12, 2011.http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/nkh/opinion/125428448.html.
