Tacoma Tall Ships, Puyallup Canoe. An Act of Resistance.
by Darren Moore
Saturday, June 17, 2017. Tacoma, Washington. In the heart of Tacoma’s Foss Waterway, where the Festival of Sail unfolded amidst grandiose ships and celebratory fanfare, a solitary Puyallup canoe emerged in a symbolic act of resistance and resilience. The canoe’s quiet glide through the waters was an emotional counterpoint to the towering wooden ships, a manifestation of a millennia-old relationship between the Puyallup people and these waters, their ancestral highways and source of life.
The Festival attracted thousands, lured by a sense of maritime history and the spectacle of tall ships. But what caught the eyes of many was the Puyallup canoe, piloted by members of the newly christened ‘Water Warriors.’ This was no casual jaunt; it was a statement, a protest against a proposed Liquefied Natural Gas facility that threatens both environmental stability and Indigenous sovereignty.
As festival-goers enjoyed food trucks and snapped photos of a giant rubber yellow duck, the Puyallup tribal members looked at the tall ships with a mixture of pain and resolve. These were the same types of vessels that heralded the arrival of European settlers, the onset of forced relocations, and the stripping away of Indigenous rights and dignity.
Dakota Case, a Puyallup Tribe member and organizer of the canoe action, relayed a message from David Bean, a member of the Puyallup tribal council. “What affects one of us, affects all of us,” he conveyed. This sentiment underlines the tribe’s unified stance against the looming environmental threat, illustrating the project’s far-reaching implications for the entire community.
Adding an emotional dimension to the event was Patricia Gonzales, another Puyallup Tribe member and a puller in the canoe. Four months pregnant, Patricia suggested the term ‘Water Warriors’ to bring solidarity and focus to their grassroots movement. Her participation symbolized both ancestral legacy and future generations, underlining the urgency of the tribe’s fight.
The canoe’s journey became a focal point, a moment of palpable energy that seemed to hang in the air long after the boat had passed. As it navigated underneath the 11th Street Bridge, Indigenous activists on land marched in solidarity to Dock Street. There, they were joined by the canoe family, sharing prayers, songs, and information with interested passersby. The rally was organized by Redefine Tacoma and received support from Save Tacoma Water, Tacoma Direct Action, and The Backbone Campaign, who arrived with a support boat and a giant NOLNG banner.
At this moment, the canoe wasn’t merely a vessel on the water. The sight of a small coastal canoe, with its pullers singing prayer songs, served as a declaration of Indigenous resilience and a reclamation of the Puyallup Tribe’s historical and spiritual connection to these waters. The scene was profoundly resonant—each paddle stroke carried a message, and each song served as a call to action.
As the festival lights dimmed and the crowds dispersed, what lingered was the image of that lone canoe, a symbol of Indigenous defiance and unity, against the backdrop of tall ships and colonially fraught waters. In the fight for their future, in their determined sailing against the currents of systemic inequities and environmental degradation, the Water Warriors have made it abundantly clear: they will neither be ignored nor forgotten.
Additional Information: Link to Ancestral Waters Documentary
First appearing on June 17, 2017, this article is part of an ongoing series documenting the Indigenous-led campaign against the Tacoma LNG facility.
The article has since been edited to remove time-sensitive elements, such as calls to action, in order to serve as an historical and educational resource. You can also explore other related articles and resources on the Ancestral Waters page for a more contextual understanding of the issues and events.
While the full “Ancestral Waters” documentary is available for screenings, we invite you to watch the trailer for a glimpse into the comprehensive story of resiliency and activism told in the film.
