SUQUAMISH — Sixty-nine canoes landed July 25 at Suquamish as part of the 2016 Canoe Journey/Paddle to Nisqually.

Protocol — the formal sharing of traditional dances, songs, and teachings — continues through the day and night in the Suquamish House of Awakened Culture.

Canoes depart early July 27 for Muckleshoot. They arrive in Puyallup on July 28, Oddfellows Park in Olympia on July 29, and Nisqually on July 30 for a week of celebration.

This is the largest Canoe Journey gathering at Suquamish since 2009, when the Suquamish Tribe hosted. Gathering at Suquamish this week were canoes traveling east from the Olympic Peninsula, as well as those traveling south from Canada and the Western Washington shores of the Salish Sea.

“There are an estimated 5,000 visitors from canoe families, neighboring Tribes and First Nations in Suquamish for the hosting,” Suquamish Tribe spokeswoman April Leigh texted in an update. “We have four major campsites (Suquamish Ballfields, Indianola Ballfields, Chief Kitsap Academy Grounds and across from the Suquamish Village). There are additional canoe families staying who are also staying with relatives and friends within the Suquamish community.

“Comparatively speaking, this is the largest turnout we have seen since our own hosting in 2009 (however, 2009 was definitely larger than this year).”

The number of canoes that landed at Suquamish this week “does not include Suquamish host canoes, or canoe families who are dropping in the water for the first time from Suquamish,” Leigh texted. “So, more than 71 canoes will be leaving our shores tomorrow morning.”

The departure will be a sight to see, as each heavy canoe is carried to the beach and each skipper asks permission, in his or her language, to leave Suquamish’s shores. You can often hear the pullers’ songs on the water as their canoe fades out of sight.

Children and their families watch a documentary presentation from the Heiltsuk Nation on July 25 in the Suquamish House of Awakened Culture. (Sophie Bonomi / Herald)

Two more canoes arrive late July 25 at Suquamish’s shores, below the House of Awakened Culture, during the 2016 Canoe Journey/Paddle to Nisqually. Sixty-nine canoes landed at Suquamish. (Richard Walker / Herald)

23rd District state Sen. Christine Rolfes, at left wearing a picnic-print blouse, and Rep. Sherry Appleton, second from right in flower print and sunglasses, joined volunteers in helping serve dinner at Suquamish on July 25 during the 2016 Canoe Journey/Paddle to Nisqually. (Richard Walker / Herald)