Paddle To Seattle

Comprised mainly of home video footage, Paddle to Seattle is an intermittently interesting (and occasionally exasperating) homage to the Quileute tribe's recreation of a traditional canoe trip to Seattle--a voyage their people stopped taking some 80 years ago. Members from the 600-member Native American community of LaPush in Washington State decided to re-enact the lost tradition as a part of the Washington State Centennial celebration. For two years they worked on and outfitted a 42' red cedar canoe. Supplementary canoes were made for the proposed water journey, and the camera catches some of the tree felling and hollowing out. The donning of ceremonial outfits and other preparations are only somewhat understandable since not all of the dialogue is in English, and the film carries no subtitles. The 350-mile trip by canoe is, nevertheless, remarkable, and certainly the centerpiece of the film--especially an amusing encounter between a canoe and a submarine. However, the film does not excel at telling a story and general audiences will find little to appreciate here. Libraries with strong Native American collections will want to consider; otherwise this is not a necessary purchase. (Available from: Wehman Video, 2366 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 420, Seattle, WA 98102.)