Representatives from dozens of Northwest tribes made a stop Wednesday afternoon at West Seattle's Alki Beach as part of an annual canoe journey.
Members of the Muckleshoot Tribe greeted them as each boat asked permission before stepping on the tribe's land.
Muckleshoot Cultural Director Will Bill has been participating in the canoe journey for 14 years. It's a culturally significant event for the tribes, revitalizing a traditional form of travel.
"Really it's engaging what our ancestors did historically," Bill said. "And that's really how we bring the kids out and teach them is looking at what did our ancestors do, how did they travel?"
The canoes head across Puget Sound to the Suquamish Tribe on Thursday. Their final destination is Campbell River, British Columbia.
They are expected to arrive by Aug. 5.
