On July 29, 2012, The Squaxin Island Tribe will host the Paddle to Squaxin 24th Annual Canoe Journey, an inter-tribal celebration of Pacific Northwest canoe culture and tradition. More than 100 canoes will land at the Port of Olympia, in Washington state, with thousands of people joining together to welcome each arrival. For centuries, Pacific Northwest tribal people navigated the waterways in intricately carved dugout canoes. The Salish Sea, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia in Canada, were the central force that connected canoe cultures for inter-tribal communication and trade.

“Green trends among large corporations have to mean more than simply replacing traditional light bulbs with CFLs or LEDs. In order to enact a culture of change throughout the “mass tourism industry,” green trends must embrace the soul of sustainability, and environmental health must go hand in hand with fair/living wages and reinvestment in communities.” – Jerusha Greenwood, Assistant Professor, California Polytechnic State University

Go Native America’s responsible travel policy is “Mitakuye Oyasin” – the final phrase in Lakota prayer which translates to: “We are all related in the Circle of Life – the two-legged, four legged, winged, and all living and growing things upon the Earth.” GNA operates in an environmentally-friendly fashion with the utmost respect for the Native American community, employing only Indigenous people as guides, and using tribally owned accommodations for tour members.

For Bardessono Inn and Spa, one of this month’s featured businesses, being a green hotel is a conscious choice that does not interfere with the commitment to providing a fully luxurious guest experience. The hotel, designed to achieve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’s (LEED) Platinum certification, the highest standard for environmental design, strives to be as transparent as possible in communicating its environmental initiatives.