Journeys 1997 was a thousand mile canoe trip from Hazelton on the Skeena River, to Victoria's Inner Harbour. The route we took is an ancient one, used by the ancestors of all of British Columbia's Coastal People. Our particular undertaking was unique as it was a fundraising event.

When dawn came to the beach at Open Bight, it brought an air of anticipation on a very special day. It was time to make the rounding of Cape Caution, the most exciting and notorious section of Queen Charolette Sound. The weather looked unsettled and the forecast was for light to moderate north westerlies. All in all, it was a fairly promising day.

My canoe is named Nunsulsailus, a Tsartlip word meaning many hands. The name was chosen for the significance of hands: hands working together, supporting one another and pulling together in unison to enable our canoe to travel many miles; hands helping to build a center to benefit anyone wishing to overcome addictions.

Nunuslasilus carried us over the huge ground swells and gusting winds of Cape Caution without incident. The 18-foot-high waves threatened to swamp us, yet we rode them safely. There were many hands that pulled together and gave Nunsulsailus the power and stability to navigate a famous stretch of water without faltering. It was an exhilarating ride on the sea that none of us will ever forget. That day was one of the most memorable for me.

This work is dedicated to the crews of Nunsulsailus and all those who continue to lend a helping hand to the ongoing work of Vision Quest.

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