200 Paddlers Mark 25 Years of Reconciliation Journey

For the 25th year in a row, hundreds of paddlers are proving that reconciliation happens one stroke at a time on British Columbia's rivers.

More than 200 people from Indigenous nations, police forces, public agencies, and youth groups just finished a nine-day canoe journey along the Harrison and Fraser rivers. They paddled through the traditional territories of five First Nations: Katzie, Matsqui, Kwikwetlem, Tsawwassen, and Musqueam.

The journey started August 15 near Agassiz and wound through stops at Matsqui Regional Park, Barnston Island, and Wellington Point Park in Delta. Paddlers included members of the Royal Canadian Navy, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, multiple police departments, and students from Simon Fraser University.

"As we paddle together, work together, and camp together, we also learn together," said Betty Kruger-Cardenas, president of the Pulling Together Canoe Society. "This strengthens our relationships and hopefully lays the foundation for a better future for all of us."

The event traces its roots back to the 1997 Vision Quest Journey along British Columbia's coast. That original voyage inspired what has become a quarter-century tradition of bringing people together on the water.

The Ripple Effect

The journey does more than build paddling skills. Participants spend over a week living side by side, sharing meals, stories, and the physical challenge of moving traditional canoes through river waters.

Indigenous youth paddle alongside police officers. Navy personnel work in rhythm with community members. Public servants and students discover common ground under open skies.

These shared experiences create understanding that extends far beyond the riverbanks. Paddlers return to their communities, workplaces, and families carrying lessons learned on the water about cooperation, respect, and Indigenous culture.

West Vancouver and Vancouver police departments participate as part of building stronger relationships with Indigenous communities. Organizations like the Justice Institute of British Columbia and engineering firm Stantec send teams to learn directly from Indigenous hosts.

The Pulling Together Canoe Society shares photos and updates throughout each journey on their Facebook page and website, allowing thousands more to witness the progress. Families watch their loved ones participate in something bigger than themselves.

Twenty-five years of paddling together represents thousands of individual moments of connection, understanding, and shared purpose that strengthen the fabric of reconciliation across British Columbia.