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"Out with the old, in with the new” is the spirit of many groundbreaking ceremonies, but the aging steel home of the Onake Paddling Club evokes too many fond memories for sheer celebration.

Mark “Nipper” Granger is no stranger to the Olympics. He coached Canada’s women’s canoe team at the games last year in Tokyo, which left with two gold medals.

Back in May, members of Kanesatake’s Longhouse listened as Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) grand chief Victor Bonspille and MCK chief Valerie Bonspille shared with them information about a group of paddlers that had scheduled a six-day trip, including a stop in Kanesatake.

For many community members who grew up paddling, the Onake Paddling Club building, which has proudly stood by the water since 1973, is a second home.

It was an impressive weekend for the Onake Paddling Club at the Masters Indigenous Games last weekend in Ottawa. Six Kahnawa’kehró:non paddlers took part in the competition on Saturday for the first time ever, taking home seven golds, three silvers, and one bronze.

When Team Eastern Door and the North (EDN) paddling head coach Lanho Goodleaf watched his team walk out at the opening ceremony of the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG)

Courtesy Sharon Tiohswathe Rice The Onake Paddling Club (OPC) is celebrating its 50th anniversary by preparing a photo and video series on the organization’s historical development and accomplishments since the first paddler took to the water in 1972.

Jesse Rice (paddling in the front of boat) qualified for the Canadian National outrigger team in the open men’s category and will be competing in a six-man category in Australia next month.

Placing at nationals remains the goal for the year for Konwanakeren Diabo, who is in Florida this week on the water training with the elite paddlers in Quebec. (Courtesy Danny Hallé)

The kids who signed up to paddle this summer at Onake also got a chance to develop their language skill, and the Ionkwawenní:io Kanien'kéha course will continue this fall.