In the summer of 1989, seventeen tribes from around Puget Sound and the Washington coast participated in the first Tribal Canoe Journey, the Paddle to Seattle. Part of the Washington State Centennial celebration, the journey celebrated Native maritime history, specifically the history of canoe travel across the region. The Paddle to Seattle revived interest in Indigenous maritime traditions and particularly in the construction and use of sea-going canoes. The next event was held in 1993, and afterward the Tribal Canoe Journey became an annual event.

This brochure advertises the 1989 Paddle of Seattle as part of the Washington State Centennial. The cover lists the names of the 17 participating tribes in a circle around the profile of the bow of an Indigenous canoe. Inside the brochure is a map of the Coast Salish area in Western Washington, with tribal lands identified, and the Paddle to Seattle route outlined. The facing page includes a statement from Emmett Oliver, the Native American Canoe Project Coordinator.

Caption information source: "Tribal canoes participating in the Paddle to Seattle arrive at Golden Gardens Park on July 21, 1989" by Jennifer Ott, HistoryLink.org Essay 20269