The Journey Enterprises

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The Journey Enterprises is a Native American family owned and operated business with a high standard of excellence and integrity.  

LEARN about Native American History and Culture of the Pacific Northwest .

VIEW photos of Native American / American Indian cultural events and gatherings.  

Mission Statement: The Journey Enterprises is a faith-based, community focused, family oriented concern with quality products and services. We follow the Native American tradition in which elders are to be honored and revered, and children are to be protected and nurtured.

God and country, family and community are central to our daily life and focus. We give back to the community from proceeds of any products, services, scholarships and monetary gifts.

The Journey Enterprises and the Charles Family support, and participate in Native American Cultural events and Native Canoe Journeys of the Pacific Northwest. 

The annual Paddle Journeys (Native Canoe Journeys) are family friendly annual events which re-inforce the committment to GUIDE YOUTH AWAY FROM the use of alcohol and drugs, and offer alternatives to un-healthy behavior and lifestyles.
CONTACT us: 
 

New Jewelry Added to the Collection 

Cancer Awareness Benefit Pieces

The Journey Enterprises has added new "benefit" pieces to the collection. As with all of our pieces, a portion of the proceeds go to benefit Native Community.

Donations from the sale of each of these new benefit pieces is designated for Breast Cancer Awareness, Research and Treatment, and for Prostate Cancer Awareness, Research and Treatment, specifically for Native American people.

Grouping of Paddles at Neah Bay, during Paddle Journey 2003 

Same design used for hundreds of years

Note the shape and design of these paddles used by the pullers on canoes during the 2003 Paddle to Lummi. The design shapes are the same as have been used by Native Tribes and First Nations people as they traveled the waters by canoe for hundreds of years, and note they are the same shape and design as the silver paddle pendants shown above. Photo Copyright Tor Parker 2003, Used by permission.

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Paddle Pictures Will Remain 

We have countless paddle photos of our own, plus those offered for our use by numerous other photographers. We will not be bullied into removing paddle images from our websites, especially by someone who is arrogant enough to claim that he created the original paddle design - which of course, has been around actually thousands of years. In fact, we have been inspired to add many, many more paddle images to our sites.

This is our culture and heritage. We will continue to celebrate it in a visible way. Thank you J.M. for inspiring the idea to ADD MORE paddle photos to ALL our sites. Please ENJOY them all!

- The Charles Family (And all the Coastal Tribes back us on this. I don't think you want to take on all the Tribes about this. You will LOSE... Big Time).

Solid Silver Paddle Pendants 

Necklace pendant

The solid silver paddle pendants jewelry are exact miniature replicas of the 6 foot long, white cedar paddle hand carved by Ben Charles, Sr. in 1993, which he still uses for the Native Canoe Journeys.

This same paddle design has been in use by the Coastal Tribes for several hundred years (actually, more like thousands of years), and miniatures used as personal adornment and decorative design on garments and artifacts.

PLEASE NOTE: An arrogant (and ignorant) individual - a non-native person - has claimed to own the copyright of the original design of the paddle, and has threatened legal action against us if we don't remove all the paddle images from all our websites. He admittedly knew nothing of the Native paddle design prior to 2005 when he was hired by Ben Jr. to make the prototype and first few of the paddle pendants, following the drawings made by Ben Sr. of the authentic replica of Ben Sr.'s working paddle.

That fella better take it easy with his threats! He is playing a losing game of jeopardy with numerous Tribal entities who will not take it kindly that he claims to own copyright of the paddle design which has been in use for several hundred years by the Tribes and First Nations people of the US and Canada.

The exact design (which J.M. erroneously and arrogantly claims to have originated) has been used for paddles of all sizes and uses (to paddle the Native ocean-going and river transit canoes, as well as decorative design on clothing, jewelry, and in various expressions of Native art) for hundreds of years.

NO ONE can own the copyright to that design - especially a non-native individual.
Can you imagine someone trying to claim ownership to a circle, or square? Same thing. No one can OWN the shape of a circle. Nor can they OWN the shape of a paddle.

Trying to claim ownership and copyright of the paddle design is like someone trying to claim ownership and copyright of the sun, the moon, a shell fish, a sunset, a tree or an ocean wave. It just can't be done. Anyone with an ounce of logic, or legal knowledge can attest to that fact.

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    Pamela Bond Coello Pamela Bond Coello Nov 21, 2009 @ 2:56 am
    WhoooHooo! You tell em"!!!
    Dear friends..fix the word NOONE to "No One" or "None"...I hate to give ANY fuel to that idiots' sputtering fire. And...to the Jack-Ass with the law suit, you truly are an ignorant soul. So, good luck with that...you will need it! Because you will NEVER win that one!
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Paddles represent Native Canoe Societies 

Significance of the paddle is more than one may imagine

Paddles in this exact shape and design have been used for hundreds of years by Native Tribes and First Nations people. Please Note: The true ORIGINAL paddle design was created in ancient times, and cannot be claimed in ownership or copyright by anyone who is now living.

The importance of the paddle is represented in the paddle pendant necklaces and in other forms and images. Paddles are symbolic to Canoe Societies of the Pacific Northwest for thousands of years in travel and commerce. The paddle also serves as life-saving floatation device if the canoe flips over, and a stablizer when water is rough or when nearnig the shore. Paddles in these photos are of the same style and design as ancient paddles. They are still used for Native canoe travel in current times. These paddle motifs are seen reflected in clothing decoration, in all kinkds of art, and in jewelry pieces crafted by many different artists from wood, glass, silver, copper, bone, and other materials.)

Paddle images may be carved from wood, shaped in a delicate beaded design, or fashioned from felt or wool fabric and framed with mother of pearl buttons. Don't you agree, it is ridiculous for some non-Native to claim that he created the first canoe paddle design and will sue if ANY paddle photos or designs are shown on our websites.

Mural of Ancient Klallam Village

Many Paddles Up! Polaroid

Paddle images used on clothing 

Paddle images adorn dancing vest, robes, shawls and other articles of clothing, drums and expressions of Native Cultural works of art.

Paddle design on Regalia

"Paddles Up!" 

Canoe Entry Ceremonies

Paddles are raised with blades upward, as gesture of respect, a peaceful greeting.

Elwha Canoe Skipper, Phil Charles Jr. Polaroid

Ben Charles, Sr and paddle he carved in 1993

Native Canoe paddles, still in the shapes and traditions of those used by the ancestors.

Canoe Landing at Tulalip Polaroid

Canoe Entry Ceremonies 

Showing Paddles-Up

Ben Sr's brother Phil announcing the Elwha canoe for entry ceremonies at Tulalip during Canoe Journey 2003. Another incoming canoe passes in the background.

Elwha Canoe - Paddle Journey 2001

Display of silver paddle pendants 

Ben Charles, Sr. with display of solid silver paddle pendants and Charles Brothers Trio CD's.

Ben is one member of the Charles Brothers Trio. He and his two brothers sang in in churches, youth camps, family camps, and conferences on the West Coast USA. In 1962 they traveled across the U.S. as official representatives of the Seattle Bible College where they attended.

This album is a collection of the songs that they recorded in 1960 from three different records. A first digital remaster produced an audio cassette version. Now a second digital remaster has produced this CD version.

The Charles Brothers voices are a beautiful blend of harmony. This album is a collectors item.

Canoe Landing for Paddle to Elwha 2005 Polaroid

Some of our other sites 

Visit them and leave feedback

Twelve Pearls shop
Specializing in beautiful hand-crafted pearl and crystal jewelry. All items are designed and created with your best moments in mind.
Native Model Search
In Search of Native American Models for Native American fashions and jewelry.
Native Nations Good Politics Radio
Internet Radio for Native Nations - serving Indigenous People of the Americas. Topics are of, by, and for Native Indigenous people and communities. The on-demand Podcast programming allows you to listen or download shows anytime.
Twelve Pearls - Info page
Learn about pearls: types of pearls, care and storing of pearls, origin of pearls, history of pearls, myths and much more.
Stories From The Journey
Life is a Journey. Everyone has a story.

What is your story.
Charles Brothers Trio
The Charles Brothers Trio: John, Fred and Ben Charles. In the 1980's all the songs that they originally recorded to professional albums were combined, digitally re-mastered, and produced as an audiotape album. In 2005 another digital re-master, and the collection was produced in CD format.

This is the only authentic digitally remastered and produced CD containing all the professionally recorded tracks of the Charles Brothers Trio. It is a collectors item.

Carvers of paddles

StickyNote

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~ Anonymous

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Canoes landing at Tulalip 2003

"It often takes more courage to change ones opinion than to keep it.
~ Author Unknown"

Blackbox Quotation

Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.
~ William Faulkner

When there is nothing else to say 

Then all you can say (to quote Marry Poppins): Supercalifragilisticexpiallidocious

Thanks for stopping by. We hope you enjoyed the experience. Please come again. Bring a Friend.

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