From the DFO- Department of Fisheries and Ocean Communication Coordinator the following info was received to complement the videos produced on www.youtube.com/whiterockreporter
The Pulling Together family of about 350 people from around the Province, plus nineteen traditional canoes, with one Navy and two DFO support vessels running alongside, paddled by a mix of public service enforcement personnel, Aboriginal Youth and front-line NGO workers, have been hosted in each territory they have visited, camping under the stars and celebrating into the evening in Community Longhouses. Over the journey they have averaged a little over 23 kilometres a day and travelled through 5 traditional territories.
The journey, organized by Collingwood Neighbourhood House with support and mentoring from enforcement agencies, ended in Semiamhoo - the first time in over 50 years that canoes have come into the Territory - which was a huge deal, and very emotional, for the Community.
DFO's [Department of Fisheries and Ocean] involvement:
Two of the main people involved in this year's Pulling Together Canoe Journey are from the Squamish Detachament of DFO and were honoured during the journey at the Tsawwassen Long House. Rob Harris and Dave Loop are deeply involved in this wonderful initiative - both played key roles in helping to organize the trip and mentoring the young people who worked to make it happen.
Dave is also on the Pulling Together Board. Rob was presented with a ceremonial drum and Dave with a hand-painted ceremonial paddle in front of about 350 people involved in this.
Over the past few years, DFO and the RCMP have collaborated in a number of initiatives to enhance our relationships with First Nations in B.C. These initiatives include sponsoring local FN youth to attend the Dream Catcher conference, as well as DFO participation in Pulling Together and Gathering Strength, which are week-long canoe trips intended to help youth gain a better appreciation of their FN culture and traditions.
For DFO and the RCMP, Pulling Together, scheduled July 1 to 9 in the Lower Mainland, and Gathering Strength, from July 24-30, 2010, in Northern B.C., help to bring together C&P fishery officers, RCMP members and other enforcement agency officers with First Nations youth in a relationship and communication building experience. Each year, these journeys have grown in size and profile.
The annual Pulling Together canoe journey was born in 1997 when now-retired RCMP Staff Sergeant Ed Hill was an organizer and participant in theVision Quest Canoe Journey that year.
The voyage, brought together RCMP officers and Aboriginal youth together
to re-trace traditional trade routes and visit many of the First Nations
communities along the coast of
Brief Itinerary: PullingTogether 2010 , from July 1-9, visitied
the following communities: Port Moody, Ambleside Park, Musqueam, Richmond,
Tsawwassen, Crescent Beach, White Rock and Semiahmoo. The canoes left Steveston this morning en route to Tsawwassen. There are 19 boats plus two DFO and one Navy support vessels running alongside. In total there are about 350 people involved, a large proportion of which are kids under 20.
This is the 10th anniversary of Pulling Together and, for the first time, has been organized
by a non-enforcement agency (with a lot of mentoring and aid given to help make
it happen) - the Collingwood Neighbourhood House.
