The Journey Enterprises is a family-owned and operated business. Founder and owner, Ben Charles, Jr. and his wife Denise create unique and rare jewelry pieces.
Ben makes Native American art and jewelry, and Denise her own line of elegant pearl jewelry which is aptly called Twelve Pearls.
Together they are busy parents and faithful volunteer staff in their church, as well as community and leadership volunteers in various capacities.
Ben with his paddle carved in 1993
Paddle pendants are the miniature replica of Ben, Sr’s paddle he carved in 1993. It is the same design paddle used by ancient Native canoe travelers for countless centuries in the waters of the Pacific Northwest / West Coast areas of the USA and Canada. Ben Sr. uses his paddle on the annual Native Canoe Journeys, also known as called Tribal Journeys of the Pacific Northwest.
"Paddles Up!"
Pictured here, on Pacific NW canoes as participate in Paddle to Elwha 2005, these shape paddles have been used by Native Indigenous People of the Water for countless centuries.
No individual living now could legally claim ownership of the design. However a certain non-Native individual has threatened us, telling us to “remove all the paddle images” from all our websites because he claims to own the original design. It takes a lot of nerve or ignorance (or both) to make such a claim. This man has caused many of our websites to be discontinued by claiming to the webservers that he owns the ancient paddle design and saying that we have infringed on his copyright.
The Tribes and Native Nations need to stand up to bullies like this and let them know that they cannot claim ownership of centuries old Native Indigenous designs.
Thank you for your support in this.
Canoe entry ceremonies 2003 Tulalip Tribe
CLICK HERE for more information regarding the original paddle designs.
Refer questions about demand to remove paddle images from these sites to CLICK HERE.
