The Dream Canoe Program connects members of the Downtown East Side to cultural teachings and healing through access to land, water and our beautiful canoe, stequye. In sharing traditional canoeing activities and cultural teachings grounded in Coast Salish knowledge, we uplift and strengthen our bodies, minds, hearts, and spirits together. Open to staff and members of our partner organizations, the Dream Canoe Program provides gear, cultural teachings and healing ceremony, instruction on water safety and paddle technique, and lunch for all participants.
Additionally, our paddlers benefit from being able to connect with spirit, nature and one another surrounded by land and water.
Starting as a vision in the heart of Skipper Wendall Williams and supported by Elder Lillian Howard, our cultural canoeing program came to be in Spring 2021 with the founding of a partnership between Indian Residential School Survivors’ Society, Kilala Lelum, and Saa’Ust Centre, with Dudes Club Society adding their support shortly thereafter.
We launched in August of 2021 with a formal Waking Ceremony held at Crab Park where, with the help of several Elders and Knowledge Keepers from our host nations, we introduced stequye to our community. Hundreds of people have joined our canoe family since that day, honouring ceremonies and pulling together on local paddles, canoe camps, and special events like Orange Shirt Day. We continue to be supported and guided by a broad network of Elders and Knowledge Carriers from across Turtle Island and especially from our Coast Salish host nations.
Our program is currently developing ways to expand our offerings to make time paddling with stequye accessible more broadly, including external booking and sponsorship opportunities.
If you would like more information about the Dream Canoe Program, please contact the Dream
Canoe Program Coordinator Vicki Haynes at [email protected]