Quinault Indian Nation to resume canoe race Sept. 7

By Matthew N. Wells • August 29, 2024 5:45 pm
Quinault Indian Nation The Quinault Indian Nation holds motorized canoe races each year on the Quinault River in Taholah, for Taholah Days on July Fourth. For the first time since the 1980s, the canoes return to the Harbor during Hoquiam Loggers’ Playday.
Quinault Indian Nation The Quinault Indian Nation holds motorized canoe races each year on the Quinault River in Taholah, for Taholah Days on July Fourth. For the first time since the 1980s, the canoes return to the Harbor during Hoquiam Loggers’ Playday.

The Quinault Indian Nation canoe race is coming back to Hoquiam on the city’s biggest day of the year, Hoquiam Loggers’ Playday.

While the race that hasn’t been conducted since the 1980s isn’t part of Hoquiam Loggers Playday, it slides right in between two huge elements of the family-friendly all-day event. The race gives residents and people who have traveled to Hoquiam more to do throughout the day, as well as a chance to see history unfold.

The race starts at 3:30 p.m., at the Hoquiam River boat launch — Levee Street Boat Launch and Park — which is just north of the back of Swanson’s Foods. The race goes between the two bridges in town, the Hoquiam River Bridge and the Simpson Avenue Bridge. As of Tuesday, the thought was there would be 10 teams. While estimated to be an approximate 1,000-yard race, it will be a sight to see.

The 20-foot-long by two feet-wide canoes are equipped with 25 horsepower high performance engines, according to Tim Quigg, who sees the racing return as a great thing for the Harbor. Quigg was born and raised on the Harbor.

“This is both historic for the nation and the Grays Harbor community,” Quigg said. “This is historic for us. It was a huge part of our culture growing up.”

Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.