On July 17, over 150 people gathered on the beach at Cape Mudge, on Quadra Island, to welcome paddlers bearing Na̱max̱sa̱la – a xwax’wa̱na canoe carved in the traditional way – on its 83-kilometre journey through the Johnstone Strait, which divides Vancouver Island from mainland British Columbia.

Earlier that morning, Wei Wai Kum, We Wai Kai, and K’ómoks members met in Kelsey Bay, near Sayward, to bless the xwax’wa̱na with eagle down and give it the name Na̱max̱sa̱la, which translates to “everyone on the boat together.” Over the course of the day, Nation members and friends from different generations paddled Na̱max̱sa̱la south, enjoying the company of humpback whales and other wildlife. The organizers used support boats to transfer groups in and out of the xwax’wa̱na, giving paddlers opportunities for a well-deserved break.

On the beach at Cape Mudge, spirits were high as Wei Wai Kum, We Wai Kai, and K’ómoks members, along with friends and relatives, waited in the sunshine for the paddlers to complete their journey. They were escorted to shore by the Wei Wai Kum and We Wai Kai canoes and welcomed with a powerful chorus of drumming and songs. The celebration closed with a hearty salmon dinner, gifts for the carvers and organizers, and speeches acknowledging the months-long collaboration between the carvers from the three Nations and Na̲nwak̲olas Council to create the first xwax’wa̱na using traditional methods in Kwakwaka’wakw territory in more than 100 years.

Using a single windfall cedar located deep in the H’kusam forest, near Sayward, carvers Junior Henderson (Wei Wai Kum), Max Chickite (We Wai Kai), and Karver Everson (K’ómoks) worked together over two months to prepare the tree, carve and steam the 10-metre xwax’wa̱na using traditional methods, and craft a set of paddles.

Jessica Chickite, an artist from We Wai Kai, created the whale and moon designs painted along the xwax’wa̱na, intended to honour the place where the cedar grew. The whale was chosen because it is one of the main crests of the people of the Salmon River and the moon was chosen to honour and represent the Moon family, who held the head chieftainship of the Salmon River

“The significance of Na̱max̱sa̱la is immense. The journey today, in which paddlers from all three Nations have worked to bring the canoe from Kelsey Bay to Cape Mudge, is symbolic of the journey each of the Nations are taking toward a better future for their communities and for the territories,” said Dallas Smith, Na̲nwak̲olas Council President, in a Black Press story. “The Nations are all well on the way on their journey to reclaim self-determination and take back their rightful place as stewards of their lands, waters, and resources. Gilakas’la to everyone involved in this historic event.”

Now that the xwax’wa̱na has completed its first journey, the partners have chosen to gift Na̱max̱sa̱la and the paddles from its inaugural journey to the Tsa̱kwa’luta̱n Healing Centre, which will provide culturally-grounded mental health and addictions treatment.