The Suquamish Tribe is one of the groups of Coast Salish People that have built canoes as a method of transport, livelihood and ceremonies for centuries.

Suquamish Canoes

Canoes were historically an essential part of life for the Suquamish tribe and used for fishing, traveling, warfare and even burial ceremonies.

The Canoe Builders were a revered position in the tribe, and took great care to select the right Wester Red Cedar trees for canoes. Often, the builders would listen for the spirits of the canoe in dreams or songs before selecting a tree. The tree had to be the right size, with the least amount of branches and close the water so they could move it easily.

Here, two builders are shaping and hollowing out a modern cedar canoe.

The designs on the canoes represent the spirits of animals, and ancestors. The way these are depicted on their canoes follows a system of design that is consistent across most Coast Salish cultures.

Today, Tribal Canoe Journeys are an important part of Suquamish culture and live on every year as a way to welcome other Coast Salish families to our shores and share traditions, stories and good food!

It takes many people to carry a canoe!

Tribal Canoes from all over the Pacific Northwest gather on the shores of Suquamish

Today, we will be making our own canoes using clay!