Members of the One People Canoe Society finished the last leg of their weeklong journey from Angoon to Juneau on Wednesday.
Their arrival marked the unofficial beginning of Celebration, a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian tribal members organized by the Sealaska Heritage Institute.
The Princeton Hall, a Juneau-based 65-foot boat, joined the flotilla throughout their journey along with several other safety boats. The boats provided food, shelter and safety to the canoes which came from several Southeast Alaska communities.
The Hall was a safety boat for a canoe piloted in honor of Alaska Native veterans.
Click on any photo to view the full slideshow.
Harry James drives the Princeton Hall, while Ed Thomas, former President of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska looks on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The One People Canoe Society group began the trip to Juneau from Angoon on June 2. Their landing on Douglas Island is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Ed Thomas, former President of the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska helps load a canoe before finishing a paddle from Angoon to Juneau on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The society began the trip on June 2. Their landing on Douglas Island is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Dennis Jack, Tlingit from Angoon, stands in the doorway of the Princeton Hall, a safety boat, on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The One People Canoe Society group began the trip to Juneau from Angoon on June 2. Jack is one of several Alaska Native veterans who flew a flag honoring their brethren during the trip which is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Members of the One People Canoe Society prepare their safety boat before hopping into canoes to finish paddling from Angoon to Juneau on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The society began the trip on June 2. Their landing on Douglas Island is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Doug Chilton, head of the One People Canoe Society, shares a laugh with Dennis Jack on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The One People Canoe Society began a canoe trip to Juneau from Angoon on June 2. Their landing on Douglas Island is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Bill Bennett relaxes before getting into a canoe to finish paddling from Angoon to Juneau on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The One People Canoe Society group began the trip on June 2. Their landing on Douglas Island is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
John Garcia plays a song for his fellow paddlers on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The One People Canoe Society group began the trip to Juneau from Angoon on June 2. Their landing on Douglas Island is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Doug Chilton, head of the One People Canoe Society, and Magnus and Alexa Jackson watch boats gather on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The One People Canoe Society began a canoe trip to Juneau from Angoon on June 2. Their landing on Douglas Island is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Doug Chilton, head of the One People Canoe Society loads a boat before finishing a paddle from Angoon to Juneau on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The society began the trip on June 2. Their landing on Douglas Island is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Paddlers in a canoe honoring Alaska Native veterans share a prayer and a meal before getting into their canoe to finish paddling from Angoon to Juneau on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The One People Canoe Society group began the trip on June 2. Their landing on Douglas Island is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Members of the One People Canoe Society share a hug before hopping into canoes to finish paddling from Angoon to Juneau on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The society began the trip on June 2. Their landing on Douglas Island is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Members of the One People Canoe Society finish paddling the last leg of a trip from Angoon to Juneau on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The society began the trip on June 2. Their landing on Douglas Island is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Members of the One People Canoe Society gather to share a meal and discuss logistics before they finish the last leg of paddling from Angoon to Juneau on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The society began the trip on June 2. Their landing on Douglas Island is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Members of the One People Canoe Society push during the last leg of their journey on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The group began the trip to Juneau from Angoon on June 2. Their trip is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Members of the One People Canoe Society paddle during the last leg of their trip on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The group began a trip to Juneau from Angoon on June 2. Their landing in Douglas is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Members of the One People Canoe Society work during the last leg of their trip from Angoon to Juneau on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The society began the trip on June 2. Their landing on Douglas Island is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Doug Chilton, head of the One People Canoe Society skippers a canoe commemorating Alaska Native veterans on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The society began the trip on June 2. Their landing on Douglas Island is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Dennis Jack, Tlingit from Angoon, prepares a memorial for his uncle Frank Jack and Robert Feller in the bow of a canoe for Alaska Native veterans on a One People Canoe Society journey on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The group began the trip to Juneau from Angoon on June 2. Their trip is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Kathy Ruddy, owner of the Princeton Hall, signs a ceremonial paddle on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. Ruddy’s boat was one of several that followed the One People Canoe Society group to provide safety and oversight during a trip from Juneau from Angoon. The group’s landing on Douglas Island is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Hundreds of people lined the shores of Douglas Harbor, June 8, 2016 to welcome the canoes. (Photo by Jennifer Canfield/KTOO)
Tlingit master carver Wayne Price carved the two red canoes on the end.They joined the flotilla as they made their entrance into Douglas Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Photo By Emily Kwong/KCAW)
Before the canoes can come ashore, they must get permission from the Auke Kwan Tlingits of Juneau. Fran Houston of the Auke Kwan was joined by Paul Marks of the Douglas Indian Association to carry out the tradition Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Photo by Emily Kwong/KCAW)
John Martin asks for permission come ashore Wednesday, June 8, 2016. He told the crowd, “Today, we are practicing that our Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people will come together. We will sing like one nation. We will speak like one nation. And we will dance like one nation.” (Photo by Emily Kwong/KCAW)
This canoe from Ketchikan carried the Haida Copper Bird family Wednesday, June 8, 2016. They had pullers from Hydaburg, Old Massett, Angoon, Hoonah, Seattle, and Klawock. (Photo by Emily Kwong/KCAW)
Gov. Bill Walker joined a canoe carrying veterans from across Southeast Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Holding high the American flag, they honored WWII veteran, Frank Jack Sr., who passed away the night before. (Photo by Emily Kwong/KCAW)
Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott joined the canoe from Yakutat for the final stretch to Douglas Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Photo by Emily Kwong/KCAW)
Members of the One People Canoe Society change into their regalia as they finish paddling the last leg of a trip from Angoon to Juneau on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The society began the trip on June 2. Their landing on Douglas Island is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Members of the One People Canoe Society share a hug before hopping into canoes to finish paddling from Angoon to Juneau on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. The society began the trip on June 2. Their landing on Douglas Island is the unofficial beginning of Celebration. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Live television coverage of Celebration on 360 North and 360north.org begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Celebration coverage continues from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Saturday. For more Celebration news coverage, go to ktoo.org/celebration.
I help the newsroom establish daily news priorities and do hands-on editing to ensure a steady stream of breaking and enterprise news for a local and regional audience.
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