S’Klallam/Klallam Tribes welcome canoe families during canoe journey stopover at Fort Worden

qatáy/PORT TOWNSEND — July 22, 2026 — In an annual celebration and gathering of inter-Tribal nations, the traditional lands of the S'Klallam/Klallam, known as qatáy, on the present-day beaches of Fort Worden Historical State Park, will welcome traditional canoe families on July 25.

The three federally recognized S’Klallam/Klallam Tribes of ʔéʔɬx̣ʷaʔ (Lower Elwha), stətíɬəm (Jamestown) and nəxʷq̕íyt (Port Gamble) will host the canoe families. The stopover is an opportunity for the canoe pullers to rest and gather in potlatch after miles on the sea. As many as 20 canoes with canoe families and as many as 1,000 people will ask the host Tribes' permission to come ashore and share in ceremonial songs and dances.

The stopover is part of the Canoe Journey 2026 Paddle to Medicine Creek Nisqually Potlatch, which is hosted by the Nisqually Indian Tribe. The final landing is on July 31, 2026. 

Day of the landing

Canoe landings will occur throughout the day on July 25 at the beach near the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. Landings are a large-scale community event and require many volunteers to help canoe families, shuttle Tribal Elders and carry people and gear from the landing site to camp site.

Visitors are advised that parking will be extremely limited. In addition to the Canoe Journey Landing, there will be a jazz festival in the park. Expect and plan for increased traffic congestion, limited parking and crowds.

Parking has been reserved for all Tribal Members, including Tribal Elders, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Private shuttles will be available to bring them to and from the Canoe Journey landing site. In support and partnership with the Tribes, State Parks staff are responsible for the park logistics and will have staff and signage available to help direct traffic. If you have questions or not sure where to go, ask uniformed State Parks staff.

How to share the park during Canoe Journey

Canoe Journey is a scared ceremony to the Coast Salish People, and State Parks asks the public to support by respectfully observing while visiting Fort Worden on July 25. There will be a designated public viewing area for those interested in watching and learning more about Canoe Journey.

The S’Klallam/Klallam Tribes will also host an information booth near the site of the canoe landings to provide information to the public who may be interested in learning more about Coast Salish traditions and practices.

Please follow these guidelines to respectfully share the space:

• Pay attention to what is happening and step back to allow space for this to be about Indigenous people.
• Listen and observe. Do not interrupt preparations or ceremony to ask questions. Please visit the information booth instead.
• Be quiet and respectful. Don’t talk during a prayer, a song, when an Elder is talking or when a canoe family is requesting permission to come ashore.
• Avoid swearing, speaking loudly or speaking in degrading ways.
• Do not touch the canoes unless you are invited to do so.
• Walk behind the singers and speakers, do not cross in between the greeters and canoes.
• Please remind children not to play in the water near the canoe landing ceremony.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is honored to lift the voices of the Indigenous People who will gather for the Canoe Journey 2026 Paddle to Nisqually Medicine Creek Potlatch. Though State Parks is the current steward of some of these lands, these are the Traditional lands of S’Klallam/Klallam People since time immemorial. State Parks is privileged to use its platform to share these stories in partnership with the Tribes.

Resources

View a map of the beach and respectful observation areas here.

Read the 2026 Canoe Journey FAQ here.