With the River
with the River: Cakawitopikak/Ekonakwasi Sipi
8-Day Dumoine River Whitewater Trip
We’re grateful to be travelling within Anishinaabe Aki, specifically within the territory of the Kebaowek First Nation. In Anishinaabemowin, the Dumoine River is called by the names Cakawitopikak Sipi and Ekonakwasi Sipi, or Alder and Desire River, respectively. This river has been travelled for thousands of years by canoe and foot by the Anishinaabe Peoples.
The Dumoine River is one of the largest an last undammed river tributaries of the Kitchisipi/Ottawa River, and we are grateful to travel the lower two-thirds of the Dumoine River from Lac Benoit, which is approximately 60 kms, flowing nearly directly south to the mouth and into the Kitchisipi/Ottawa River. This section of the river has Class I swifts to Class III rapids, with mixed lake hopping in between narrower river sections. The characteristics of the Land change as we travel southwards, becoming wider as more tributaries flow into the river.
This trip includes an evening refresh of training on the first night before paddling the Dumoine River in order to build trust in ourselves, trust in each other, and trust in the river to carry us. When trust is established, we can feel more settled in our bodies and from this place, we can build gentler relationships with each other and the Land.
Dates: August 11th-18th, 2025 Cost: $3525, all meals and camping are included.
Who is this trip for?
This trip is designed for cis women, trans women and gender diverse people. This trip is designed for intermediate paddlers who have experience in whitewater. We recommend you’ve had at least 3-5 days in a whitewater boat and understand basic whitewater canoe strokes. We will briefly refresh strokes in a flatwater section before meeting the rapids, but this section of the Dumoine starts out with a Class II rapid. Throughout this section of the river, there are Class I+- Class III rapids with varying challenges!
trip flow
Pre-trip: setting intentions
After booking, take some time for yourself to reflect on what inspired you to join this trip. What are you hoping to learn or experience? What relationships do you hope to nurture? (e.g. With yourself? If so, which parts of yourself? With other women? With the land?)
Two weeks before our trip, we’ll meet virtually to chat about our time together. This will be your chance to introduce yourself, share your questions, concerns, fears, hesitations, excitements, hopes, and intentions for the trip.
Remember that at any point before the trip, you are always welcome to email Braiding Rivers.
Day 2: transitioning
Shuttle to Lac Benoit
This is another exciting day! We will depart from to Dumoine River Outfitters with our canoes and gear and say goodbye to the Ottawa and our cars for the next 7 days. Etienne, the trusted shuttle driver, will drive us on a very bumpy logging road for a 3-4 hour drive to Lac Benoit, where we will launch our trip!
We begin with a two-part Class II rapid and a short paddle to our first campsite for the night. Here we will enjoy a warm dinner, and relish in the company of the Land and each other.
Day 1: learning
Meet at Dumoine Valley Guides at 12:00 pm
An exciting day! We will all gather at Dumoine Valley Guides in Swisha, QB to meet each other, set up our tents, eat lunch and introduce ourselves to each other and the river. Then we will gear up and portage down to the Ottawa River just steps from our campsite for a flatwater refresher on whitewater strokes, rescues and safety skills. After our afternoon here, we’ll paddle back to our site, warm up with a delicious dinner and a fire.
This evening will give us the soace to ensure we are packed, rested and ready to travel down the Dumoine River for the next six days.
Day 3-8: growing
Being with the river
This is the bulk of our journey, where every day will look a little bit different depending on the weather and river flow. We will usually aim to be finished drinking coffee, eating breakfast and packing down camp before 10 AM so we can be pushing off of shore at that time (paddling in the morning is beautiful - you won’t regret it). Everything else is up to the river. Generally, we will eat dinner between 6 and 7, and spend our evenings in a variety of activities - music making, story telling, crafting and connecting. Every trip will look different as it will be a unique collection of people with a unique collection of gifts.
If you want to learn more about the rapids of the Dumoine, check out The Rapids section.
Day 8: hello to the ottawa and farewell to the dumoine
Day 8 is our last day. We will wake up extra early so we can immerse ourselves in one last morning on the river. We will have a couple of hours of paddling across the mighty Ottawa River to Driftwood Campground. From Driftwood, we will organize our gear, shuttle our vehicles over from Dumoine Valley Guides, share some final words and say our goodbyes, or “Baamaapii.”
have more questions?
