Another full and memorable weekend at camp! We were honored to welcome friends from Vancouver Island, as well as Johns Island neighbors, camp leaders, and alumni, to camp for Potlatch weekend.
The canoe welcome ceremony marked the beginning of Potlatch weekend.
On Friday afternoon, the celebrations began with a traditional canoe welcome ceremony, in which campers and staff approached the shore of South Beach in the new canoe and our Hunt 22’ canoes and received a formal invitation to come ashore and join in the festivities. After everyone walked up from the beach, we congregated below the new totem pole, which was gifted to camp this year by Calvin Hunt and his family and erected below the Lodge earlier in the session. Calvin and his family members presided over a blessing and dedication ceremony for the pole, reflecting on the cherished and long-standing relationship that the Hunt family has enjoyed with the Holm family and Camp Nor’wester for over fifty years.
Campers from the Kwakwaka’wakw community performed a headdress dance during the pole blessing and dedication ceremony.
Following the ceremony at the pole, it was time for the salmon bake! Everyone delighted in sharing a delicious meal of salmon, tartar sauce, potato salad, baked beans, tomato slices, garlic bread, lemonade, and brownies and Rice Krispy treats for dessert. Campers and staff ate from their cook kits or found driftwood slabs from the beach that they used for plates. Once everyone had eaten their fill, we gathered together on Mission Point to exchange songs with our guests and play our first-ever session of all-camp lahal!
The Bear team captains led their group with confidence and passion throughout Potlatch Games.
Saturday marked the beginning of Potlatch Games, in which campers divide into teams – the Bears and the Ravens – and compete in team challenges all weekend long. Silly staff-led skits punctuated the progress of the Games, and after lively competitions of team cheers, activities, a relay race, and a tug o’war, the Bears emerged as the weekend’s victors.
The Raven team brought all their creative energy and choreographic ingenuity to their team cheer!
Along with the Potlatch Games competitions, there were also some very special events taking place. Saturday evening was the night of dances in the Bighouse, where our North Coast campers and elders shared their songs, dances, and stories. It was a magical evening in which many treasures were shared, and we were incredibly privileged to witness and – for some campers and staff members – participate in the special music and dances of our North Vancouver Island friends.
The Troubadours and Mountaineers performed a special welcome song and dance at the beginning of the Bighouse dances.
On Sunday, the Potlatch Games activities continued, culminating with Banquet, team captain speeches, and the all-camp gift exchange. At the exchange, campers and staff presented the gifts they have spent the session making for their selected recipients. Many incredible creations were shared, as well as heartfelt appreciations and good wishes, and all of us felt lucky to take part in such a beautiful closing ritual together.
The captains of the Bear and Raven teams offered their speeches of gratitude at the conclusion of Banquet.
Today is packing day, and all the campers are making their preparations to leave camp tomorrow morning. We’re sad to see them go, but we still have a few important touchstones ahead of us tonight: the final Musicale of the session, the all-camp dance, and the closing campfire. We’re doing our best to savor every last minute with our Second Session campers!