Traditional route retraced by Metlakatla paddlers during Gathering Strength Journey

It's a route that can be traced well beyond the last century and in early August Six traditional canoes retraced the journey that once took their ancestors from Metlakatla, BC to Metlakatla, Alaska.

The Gathering Strength Canoe Journey of August, brought the two Metlaktala's together as over 100 paddlers took to the water departing the British Columbia community on July 31st, bound north to their namesake community in Alaska.

The arrival in Alaska was celebrated by the Ketchikan Public Radio station KRBD, which had a fairly full review of the journey, as well as links to videos highlighting the greeting in Metlakatla BC, as well as a celebration of their Alaska arrival.

For the Metlakatla, British Columbia paddlers this years journey marks the 8th annual trek of the Gathering Strength Canoe Journey,an annual journey which has quickly grown into one of the most anticipated events of the North Coast.

Following their stop in Metlakatla, Alaska, the group was bound for Ketchikan, the departure point for their return to the North Coast via the Alaska Marine Highway.

More photos and updates of the Journey can be found from the facebook page dedicated to this years Journey.

Other media items of note on the journey can be found below.

Capital City Weekly-- Recreating an ancient journey