Sx̌ʷnítkʷ Canoe Journey readies for 2024 paddle

Sx̌ʷnítkʷ Canoe Journey, the revitalization of Sinixt and Secwépemc journeys to Kettle Falls founded in 2016 will be landing in Revelstoke Wednesday, June 12 for a day of activities, songs and more.

“The canoe journey is a representation of what we’ve done for thousands and thousands of years, which is to go to our fishery at Kettle Falls, and manage that fishery,” Stevey Seymour, executive director for Inchelium Language House, told Revelstoke Mountaineer. 

Paddlers will travel south from Revelstoke and north from Spokane Reservation to meet up at Kettle Falls and celebrate the long-standing work to feed local nations and care for the waterways and food sources.

“Sx̌ʷnítkʷ Canoe Journey really helps us be able to get people on the land for an extended period of time and interacting in culturally significant way,” Seymour said, noting that transboundary nations such as the Sinixt Nation are still working to reclaim their rights to travel and connect with lands that the Canada and USA border now divides.

Plans are still in the works for what activities and ceremonies will be taking place at Revelstoke, Seymour explained, with details announced closer to the June 12 date. But an open invitation for all of Revelstoke and those visiting is already being spread.

“The whole goal is reconnection. We want to connect not only to the land but the communities that are here on the land.”

That reconnection with the land around Revelstoke and the community has been in the works and efforts are showing, Seymour said.

“Revelstoke has a community that wants to interact with us and wants to learn with us and work with us,” Seymour explained when asked why Revelstoke was chosen as one of the travel points. “The area means a lot to this journey, yes, but the community has those kinds of relationships that have been built up and really make a difference.”

Those wishing to help volunteer for Sx̌ʷnítkʷ Canoe Journey Revelstoke location can sign up on the Sx̌ʷnítkʷ Canoe Journey website. To learn about events for Wednesday, June 12 and receive more information about the journey, sign up for the Sx̌ʷnítkʷ newsletter on their website.