7-10-11Paddle2SwinAureliaWashingtonPatJohnTaoUpdates

With only two weeks left until the tribal canoes land on the shores of Swinomish, you can only imagine all the behind the scenes prep and activities that are happening.

Aurelia Washington is the TCJ/Paddle to Swinomish coordinator. She spoke to me back in April & she will give us an update and idea of what to expect the week the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community hosts close to 130 tribal canoes, their families, and others who will come to witness this historic & cultural event. The canoes will land on July 25th & stay through July 31st- the day the potlatch give away will take place. Every day there will be canoe families sharing their songs, dances and stories about theor paddle to Swinomish. This event has taken place for 22 years here in the NW and Canada. This is the first time Swinomish has been more than a stop over, they are expecting thousands of people every day to come & share in this epic event. Aurelia has been assisted by Melissa Miller in planning the Paddle to Swinomish. They have done a great job!

To find out more go to www.paddletoswinomish.com

Pat John will be calling in to tell us about Ahousat canoe family that have already started from their homelands from one of the First Nation bands,from Canada, BC.He has been a participant & MC at some of the TCJ.He will update us on how the Ahousat canoe family is doing as the travel the water highway of the Salish Seas,destination Swinomish.

Swinomish youth have also been busy learning the songs and dances,but some of them have also learned how to make linolium block prints with Native American and realted images from a wonderful woman named Theodora"Tao" Jonsson.She will call in to speak about the grant that made this opportunity possible & how the prints will be on display & for sale in various places in La Conner,WA- a quaint neighboring town & art mecca,situated right across the Swinomish Channel.