A Surrey woman embraced Indigenous culture during this year鈥檚 Pulling Together Canoe Journey.
Mera Dhillon was part of the Law Society of B.C. canoe family that attended this year鈥檚 Pulling Together Canoe Journey on Vancouver Island. The annual event, which brings together Indigenous Peoples, youth, police, and public service personnel, ran from July 6 to 13.
WS脕NE膯 Journey 2025 aims to strengthen relations, promote healing, and foster reconciliation and respect for Indigenous host nations, as participants 鈥減ull together鈥� toward a common goal. It also supports the sharing of Indigenous cultures 鈥� on and off the water.
鈥淚 had never done canoeing before, so I didn鈥檛 know how that was going to go,鈥� Dhillon said. 鈥淓veryone was so welcoming and so patient, and we really worked together as a team. You can feel it 鈥� the emotion, the intensity.鈥�
Dhillon, born and raised in Surrey, was honoured that Indigenous Peoples were so willing to share their culture.
鈥淭hat resonates with me so much. In my culture, those things are very big,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am East Indian, so singing, dancing, food are very big. There are some very big similarities.鈥�
Dhillon, who is articling to become a lawyer, appreciated the Law Society of B.C.鈥檚 support for the journey.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really important that we get involved and that we make connections on a more personal level because of our history,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e are trying to mend and repair those relations. I think this is the best way to do it; this is the best way to share stories, break bread together, just really engage.鈥�
Since 2001, Indigenous communities have partnered with police and other provincial and federal agencies, including RCMP, the Vancouver Police Department, the Victoria Police Department, and the Royal Canadian Navy, for the annual journey.
Linda Blake, who was born and raised in Surrey, has been involved with the Pulling Together Canoe Journey since 2001. Her roles have included being a puller, a skipper, a safety consultant, and the society鈥檚 president.
Blake is a passionate supporter of the Pulling Together Canoe Journey鈥檚 efforts to support relationship-building between Indigenous Peoples and police officers.
鈥淭he canoe becomes this vessel that we are able to use to bring people together to work together,鈥� she said.
More than 220 people and 14 canoes participated in the Pulling Together Canoe Journey. It began at Tsawout First Nation on July 6 and ended in Cowichan Territory on July 13.
Darryl Gray, president of the Pulling Together Canoe Society, began attending the journey when he was a youth. He thinks it is critical to strengthen relationships between Indigenous youths and police officers.
鈥淥ne, it is a form of reconciliation 鈥� reconciliAction. You are taking action to create reconciliation,鈥� he said. 鈥淭wo, those relationships that they could build here could really ripple into their adulthood.鈥�
The host nations for this year鈥檚 event are the WS脕NE膯 Peoples 鈥� Pauquachin, Tsawout, Tseycum and M脕LEXE艁 Nations.
At a July 13 closing circle in Duncan, the Pulling Together Canoe Society announced its 2026 journey will return to the Vancouver area. A planning committee has already started working on the 25th anniversary of the Pulling Together Canoe Journey.
鈥淚t will be pretty amazing next year,鈥� Gray said.
