High school students joined West Shore RCMP’s Indigenous policing unit for a cultural canoe ride on Nov. 29.
The Belmont Secondary School students were invited aboard a 35-foot Pacific Dancer Canoe, known as TL’Ches Spirit, which is clad with Indigenous artwork and is used year-round for community and cultural events.
“We were very excited to welcome the students aboard who learned about the history of the canoe, its connection to the land and took away some new paddling skills,” West Shore RCMP community policing Const. Mark Hall said in a news release.
The students were members of Belmont’s outdoor education class and were led by officers who have completed training on how to safely steer a big canoe, lead a crew of paddlers and plan canoe trips while exercising proper safety techniques.