Birchbark Canoe - First Air Date March 8, 2012

>>> THIS FILM IS MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE MINNESOTA ARTS AND
CULTURAL HERITAGE FUND AND THE
CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA.
>> WELL, WHEN I WAS JUST A KID,
I GREW UP, MY GRANDFATHER HAD A
BIG WOODWORKING SHOP.
I WAS 6, 7 YEARS OLD.
I USED TO SPEND MY FREE TIME IN
HIS WOODWORKING SHOP.
AND I'D BE BUILDING THINGS AND I
GUESS I'VE BEEN MAKING THINGS
AND CONSTRUCTING THINGS AND
DOING THINGS WITH MY HANDS LIKE
THAT FOR MY WHOLE LIFE.
YOU KNOW.
PROBABLY 60 YEARS.
SO CANOES HAVE ALWAYS INTERESTED
US.
WE'VE BEEN TEACHING ARCHAEOLOGY
AND ANTHROPOLOGY.
SO SOME OF THE INDIGENOUS
TECHNOLOGIES HAVE BEEN REALLY
INTERESTING TO US.
AND WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTRIGUED
BY BIRCHBARK CANOES.
>> WE'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING A
15-FOOT CANOE.
WE'RE BASING ON A CANOE THAT
ACTUALLY EXISTED AND WAS
DOCUMENTED APPROXIMATELY 100
YEARS AGO.
WE DON'T BUILD A GENERIC
BIRCHBARK CANOE.
WE TRY TO BUILD OUR CANOES BASED
ON ACTUAL CANOES THAT EXISTED.
>> WELL, I GUESS THEY CONSIDER
ME THE CANOE BUILDER.
BUT MOST OFTEN I DON'T BUILD THE
CANOE ALL BY MYSELF.
SOMETIMES OTHER PEOPLE ARE JUST
INTERESTED, FRIENDS, WHAT HAVE
YOU, VARIOUS PEOPLE COME BY.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST COME BY.
AND I GUESS I END UP BEING MORE
THE CHOREOGRAPHER OF THE
CANOE-BUILDING EVENT IF YOU WANT
TO LOOK AT THIS THAT WAY.
THIS PARTICULAR CANOE A COUPLE
OF PEOPLE CAME DOWN FROM
WINNIPEG AND OCCASIONALLY
SOMEBODY TOTALLY OUT OF THE BLUE
WOULD COME BY AND STITCH A FEW
STITCHES OR DO SOMETHING.
BUILDING A CANOE IS AS MUCH A
SOCIAL EVENT I GUESS.
IT'S NOT -- I GUESS I'M MAKING
SURE EVERYTHING IS DONE
CORRECTLY.
>> RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF
MATERIALS TO PREPARE.
WE'RE BASICALLY RIGHT NOW MAKING
THE PARTS TO THE CANOE.
THE BIRCHBARK CANOES ARE ALL
STITCHED TOGETHER AND LACED
TOGETHER WITH SPRUCE ROOTS.
SO WE WERE OUT IN THE SPRUCE BOG
THIS MORNING.
THIS IS SOME OF THE ROOTS.
WE'VE GOT A WHOLE TUB FULL
HEATING UP.
WHEN THEY GET BOILED, WE'LL BE
TAKING THE BARK OFF AND
SPLITTING THESE AND STARTING TO
GET THEM READY.
WE HAVE TO MAKE ABOUT 500 OR
600 FEET OF LACING TO SEW THIS
CANOE UP.
THIS IS ACTUALLY WHAT WE'LL BE
BUILDING THE CANOE ON.
AS YOU GO SEE FROM ALL THE
DIFFERENT HOLES, WE BUILD A LOT
OF DIFFERENT CANOES ON THIS.
ON THIS BUILDING ALREADY.
OKAY
>> OKAY.
WE'RE MAKING THE BUILDING FRAME
THAT FORMS THE SHAPE OF THE
BOTTOM OF THE CANOE.
SO NOW I'LL BRING THESE
TOGETHER.
THAT LOOKS LIKE A NICE SHAPE.
I HAVE TO DRILL NEW HOLES FOR
THE STAKES.
THERE'S GOT TO BE A LITTLE BIT
OF CLEARANCE.
TO MAKE THESE INTO LACINGS, WHAT
WE DO IS WE SPLIT THE ROOTS IN
HALF.
IF THEY'RE NOT QUITE ROUND, WE
TRY TO SPLIT THEM LONG WAY OR
THE OVAL, SO THEY MAKE THE
WIDEST LACINGS POSSIBLE.
SO WE'RE JUST STARTING TO CUT,
START TO SPLIT.
HELPS TO HOLD IT BETWEEN YOUR
KNEES TO BRACE IT.
AND WHAT YOU DO IS IF YOU SEE
THE SPLIT GOING TO ONE SIDE OR
THE OTHER, YOU BEND THE THICK
SIDE.
AND THEN IT RUNS IT BACK TO THE
CENTER.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO THIS WITH
YOUR EYES CLOSED.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO WATCH.
AND WHEN YOU GET TO A LITTLE
KNOT, YOU HAVE TO KIND OF SLOW
DOWN, BE CAREFUL SOW DON'T BREAK
THE -- SO YOU DON'T BREAK THE
ROOT.
OKAY.
I'M GOING TO DRIVE MY TRUCK OVER
AND LOAD BARK OVER AT THE
BUILDING.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
THESE ARE BIRCHBARK.
THESE HAVE BEEN COLLECTED A FEW
WEEKS AGO.
YEAH, THIS IS BARK, RIGHT.
>> YEP.
>> NOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS
CLEAN UP THE INSIDE OF THE BARK
A LITTLE BIT, GET ALL THE LOOSE
STUFF OFF.
THE LOOSER BARK.
OKAY.
WE'LL MOVE THAT.
SET IT UNDER.
SET THIS BARK ON TOP.
WE'RE ABOUT TO GET TO THE
MAGICAL PART OF THIS PROCESS,
WHERE IT GOES FROM LOOKING LIKE
THESE TWO BIG IRREGULAR SCRAPS
OF BARK TO ACTUALLY STARTING TO
LOOK LIKE A CANOE.
SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS
WE'RE GOING TO SET THIS BUILDING
FRAME ON TOP OF THE BARK,
BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO
USE TO SHAPE THE BARK, TO START
IT LOOKING LIKE A CANOE.
SO WE'LL CENTER THIS ON THE
BUILDING BED.
WE ARE READY.
TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A CANOE.
WE HAVE HAD NICE PIECE OF
BIRCHBARK AND WE'RE CUTTING FULL
OF HOLES.
WELL, THERE IS A METHOD IN OUR
MOODNESS.
WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH TO A
LITTLE BIT OF UP-TO-DATE
TECHNOLOGY.
WHAT WE DO IS WE USE A HEAT GUN.
BIRCHBARK BECOMES FLEXIBLE WHEN
IT GETS HEATED.
WE COULD BE HAVING A BUNCH OF
WATER BOILINGS, AND WE COULD
POOR BOILING WALTER ON THIS
BARK.
AND BEND THESE UP.
IT'S KIND OF MESSY AND IT MAKES
A MUDDY PLACE.
OBVIOUSLY THIS ISN'T TALL ENOUGH
TO MAKE THE SIDE OF A CANOE
HERE.
SO WE'LL BE ADDING BARK.
CONTRARY TO MODERN BOAT
BUILDING, WHEREIN YOU BUILD THE
FRAME AND PUT THE EXTERIOR ONTO
THE BOAT, FOR A BIRCHBARK CANOE,
YOU BUILD THE SKIN OF THE BOAT
AND YOU PUT THE FRAME INSIDE
AFTERWARDS.
NOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS
WE'RE GOING TO BEND THIS END
PIECE UP IT'S A LITTLE MORE
TRICKY.
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BEND IT RIGHT
DEAD CENTER DOWN THE WAY HERE,
INTO A REAL TIGHT BEND AND THAN
THAT GRADUALLY GOES OUT ON
EITHER SIDE TO THE BEND LIKE WE
DID ON THE OTHER.
WE'LL MAKING WHAT ADJUSTMENTS WE
NEED TO LATER.
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
THIS STAYS OVER.
PUSH THAT TOGETHER.
THAT'S ALL ENOUGH FOR THAT.
WE'LL PUT THAT ONE IN THIS HOLE.
AND THEN ON THIS HOLE ON THIS
SIDE HERE.
THERE.
SEE.
THAT'S THE END OF CANOE.
>> THAT'S A CANOE.
>> GET YOUR PADDLES OUT.
FOLKS, WE'RE READY TO ROLL.
MY NAME IS JIM JONES.
I'M AN OJIBWE BAND MEMBER FROM
THE RESERVATION.
I LIVE UP IN CASS LAKE,
MINNESOTA.
MY NAME MEANS FLOWING CREEK.
MY GRANDFATHER GAVE ME THAT NAME
BECAUSE HE SAID I WAS ALWAYS ON
THE GO G., ALWAYS MOVING LIKE A
CREEK, LIKE A FLOWING CREEK.
WHAT I'M DOING TODAY IS I'M
MAKING PEGS FOR THE CANOE.
AND THESE WOULD BE GOING THROUGH
THE TOP OF THE CAPS.
THESE ARE IRONWOOD AND I'M
SPLITTING THESE IN HALF AND
TAKING PLANKS OUT OF THEM AND
WE'LL SPLIT THESE AGAIN INTO
LITTLE PEGS.
THESE PEGS STICKING UP NOW AND
THOSE GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
AND IF YOU ZERO IN ON THE BACK
SIDE OVER THERE, YOU CAN SEE THE
PEGS COMING THROUGH THE BOTTOM.
AND THAT'S HOW THE CAPS ARE
ATTACHED.
THERE'S NO NAILS.
THERE'S NO CREWS IN A CANOE.
AND IF DONE THE OLD WAY, THE WAY
THAT MY ANCESTORS DID THEM,
THAT'S HOW THEY WERE USED IS
WITH THE PEGS.
IT CONSISTS OF A PART THAT'S
INSIDE THE BARK AND A PART
THAT'S OUTSIDE THE BARK AND THEN
THIS GETS LACED TOGETHER.
WE HAVE TO PUT THE CROSS PIECES
IN THE GUNEL TO SPREAD THING
APART.
SO YOU CAN SEE WE'VE MADE A
LITTLE TENDON ON THE END.
AND THERE WILL BE SLOT, SLOTS
PUT IN THESE AND THIS WILL GO
THROUGH THE GUNEL.
THIS IS THE CENTER THWART.
IT'S THE LONGEST THWART THAT
GOES.
IN EVERYTHING ON A CANOE IS
PRETTY MUCH A LOT OF HANDWORK.
IF YOU NOTICE THE PIECES THAT WE
START, WE DON'T GO DOWN TO THE
LUMBER YARD AND BUY LUMBER.
WE GO TO THE WOODS AND GET A
LOG.
SO THERE'S LOT OF -- I SUPPOSE
YOU CALL IT MANUFACTURING
COMPONENTS, MORE OR LESS, MAKING
PARTS.
THIS IS GOING TO FIT IN LIKE SO.
OKAY.
IT FITS.
SO THAT'S HOW WIDE THE CANOE IS
GOING TO BE.
THIS IS KIND OF AN ART FORM AND
A THING THAT PEOPLE WEREN'T
DOING ANY MORE.
SO WHEN WE SET OUT TO START
BUILDING CANOES, WE SAID, OKAY,
SOME DAY WE WANT TO TEACH PEOPLE
THEIR OLD TRADITIONS AND SO WE
WANT TO BUILD THESE CANOES.
THIS IS NOT MY CULTURE.
I'M DEALING WITH SOMEONE ELSE'S
CULTURE.
I THINK I HAVE AN ETHICAL
OBLIGATION TO REPRESENT THAT AS
BEST AS I CAN, AS CORRECTLY AS I
CAN.
YOU MIGHT SAY I'M WALKING ON
FOREIGN TURF.
AND I HAVE TO WATCH MY STEP, YOU
KNOW.
SOY TRY TO HAVE RESPECT FOR
SOMEONE ELSE'S CULTURE.
BECAUSE THEY OWN IT.
I DON'T.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE
GO THROUGH THE PAINS WE DO TO
TRY TO DO THESE CANOES AS CLOSE
AS WE CAN, BASED ON WHAT IS
KNOWABLE.
PEOPLE SOMETIMES USE THIS WORD
THAT I DON'T LIKE.
AND THEY SAY PRIMITIVE.
WELL, THERE AIN'T NOTHING
PRIMITIVE ABOUT A BIRCHBARK
CANOE.
BECAUSE THE WORD SEEMS TO HAVE
KIND OF A NEGATIVE CONNOTATION
TO IT.
BUT WHEN EUROPEANS CAME OVER
HERE, THEY HAD BIG WOODEN BOATS
AND SHIPS.
WHAT DID THEY USE?
THEY USED THE BIRCHBARK CANOE.
THEY DIDN'T USE THE PRIMITIVE
TECHNOLOGY TO GET AROUND.
THEY USED THE SUPERIOR
TECHNOLOGY TO OPERATE FUR TRADE.
OKAY.
WE'VE GOT TO GET THEM IN BETWEEN
THIS.

QUITE A BIT.
ABOUT RIGHT.
YEAH.
I NOTICED THAT.
>> OKAY.
MIGHT BE A LITTLE LOW THERE.
>> CLAMP IT AND SEE.
APPROXIMATELY HOW MUCH BARK
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADD.
WE'LL TAKE THIS BARK, PUT IT
OUTSIDE THE GUNELS.
YEAH.
WE'RE JUST SEWING THE EXTRA
SHEET OF BIRCHBARK TO GET THE
HEIGHT.
WE FINISHED OFF THE FAR SIDE AND
THERE NEEDS TO BE A SINGLE
STITCH RUNNING DOWN THE LENGTH
OF IT.
AND IT'S A DOUBLE LACING.
SO AS ONE GOES OUT, ANOTHER ONE
GOES IN.
IT'S A LITTLE CHALLENGING.
YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT TWO
SETS OF BARK ARE RIGHT TOGETHER
AND THERE'S NO BULLS -- BULGES
ON, ANY LITTLE PUCKER ON THE
BACK SIDE WOULD ALLOW YOUR WATER
TO GET IN AND WOULD BE HARDER TO
SEAL.
SO I'M USING TO GO THROUGH BOTH
LAYERS.
NICE AND SHARP.
THIS TRIANGULAR AND CROSS
SECTION, IT'S LIKE A BIT OF A
DRILL, WHERE IT'S JUST
SEPARATING OUT THE FIBERS OF THE
BIRCHBARK.
SO THE ENDS HAVE TO BE A LITTLE
SHARP, JUST SO THAT THEY CAN
MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE
HOLES.
NOW THIS MORNING WE CARVED THE
OUTSIDE GUNEL PIECE.
WE HAD PREVIOUSLY DONE THE
INSIDE PIECE.
AND WE GOT THESE ALL READY.
THERE'S A BEVELL CUT UNDER THE
BACK SIDE OF THIS TO THE END OF
THE RIBS WILL FIT INTO.
AND ONE THING WE DID IS WE
MEASURED THE SIZE OF THE ENTIRE
BARK WHICH NEEDS TO BE ON THE
CANOE.
SO IT'S GOING TO COME OUT RIGHT.
WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE CLAMPED
THESE GUNELS ONTO PROPER HEIGHT
SO THE CANOE WILL BE THE RIGHT
SIZE.
SO NOW THERE'S EXTRA BARK.
AND SO WHAT I'VE DONE IS TRIMMED
THE SHORT SECTION FLUSH.
ONE THING WE DO WE PEG THROUGH
THE GUNELS.
IT HELPS GIVE IT ADDITIONAL
STRENGTH AGAINST SHIFTING, UP
AND DOWN AND KIND OF LOCKS THE
BARK IN PLACE.
SO WE DRILL A HOLE AND, YEAH,
WE'RE A LITTLE BIT MODERN HERE.
YOU DRILL A HOLE.
WE HAVE A SQUARE PEG WE'RE
PUTTING IN A ROUND HOLE.
SO WE PUT THIS INTO THE HOLE.
AND THEN WE'LL TRIM THE ENDS
BEFORE WE LAY.
NOW WE PEG EVERY OTHER LACING,
AS THERE'S LITTLE RED MARKS ON
THE GUNNELS.
THAT'S WHERE THE CENTER OF THE
LACINGS ARE GOING TO.
GO THE GUNNEL STRUCTURE IS
ACTUALLY MADE UP OF TWO PIECES.
THE INTERIOR GUNNEL AND ON THE
OUTSIDE, THERE'S AN EXTERIOR
GUNNEL PIECE THAT YOU SEE IS A
BIT THINNER.
ONE GOES ON THE INSIDE OF THE
BARK, ONE GOES ON THE OUTSIDE OF
THE BARK AND IT CLAMPS THE TWO
PIECES -- THE TWO PIECES CLAMP
THE BARK TOGETHER.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SEWING
LACINGS, PUNCTURING HOLES IN
HERE, TO GET THIS GOOD AND TIGHT
AT EVERY MARK THAT WE'VE MADE ON
HERE.
AND IN BETWEEN THE LACINGS,
THAT'S WHERE THE RIBS WILL
EVENTUALLY GO.
IN THERE WILL BE 40 RIBS IN THIS
CANOE.
SO WE'VE GOT THIS TEMPORARILY
CLAMPED.
SO IT'S THE RIGHT HEIGHT.
I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS CLAMP
LOOSE.
DRILL ANOTHER HOLE.
DRIVE IN ANOTHER PEG.
AND WE'LL DO THAT THE ENTIRE
LENGTH AS WE STITCH THIS, WE'LL
BE PUTTING PEGS IN.
ONCE I GET THE CLAMP TOGETHER
RIGHT, THEN I CAN TRIM THE BARK
OFF SO IT'S FLUSH AND STICKING
UP, SO IT'S NOT IN THE WAY FOR
STITCHING.
I'M GOING TO NEED TO CUT THESE
PEGS OFF AND THEN WE'LL GET A
LENGTH OF ROOT AND WE'LL BE
READY TO START STITCHING THE
GUNNELS.
NOW SEE I'M SCRAPING A FEW OF
THE FIBERS OFF OF THIS.
YOU CAN SEE HOW LONG AND STRINGY
THE FIBERS ARE ON THE ROOT.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO STRONG.
IT'S LIKE HAIR-LIKE FIBERS IN IT
THAT GIVE US THE STRENGTH.
I'M TAPERING THIS ONE END DOWN.
THINNING OUT.
NOW THE OTHER END, THIS END I'M
GOING TO LACE WITH, I'LL PUT A
POINT ON IT SO I CAN LACE IT
THROUGH THE HOLES.
SO HERE'S WHERE THE LACING GROUP
GETS CENTERED IS ON THIS HOLE.
SO I'LL GO OVER JUST A LITTLE
BIT.
AND I WILL TAKE PUT A HOLE IN
THIS, MOVE THIS WAY, SO THEY'LL
BE ABOUT A HALF INCH APART.
AND THEN I'LL MOVE ONE MORE HOLE
THIS WAY.
OKAY.
SO I PUT FOUR HOLES AND THEY
SPAN THE LENGTH MAYBE ABOUT AN
INCH AND A HALF.
NOW WE LACE THROUGH EACH HOLE
TWICE AND AROUND THE GUNNEL.
THE FIRST TIME THROUGH DOESN'T
COUNT, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST
LOCKING THE ROOT IN.
SO TO GET THE ROOTS STARTED,
WE'LL TAKE SCREWDRIVER, WEDGE
THIS OPEN SO WE CAN TUCK THE END
-- TAPER IT INTO THE ROOT
BETWEEN THE PARK AND THE GUNNEL.
POUND THAT BACK DOWN A LITTLE
BIT.
OKAY.
NOW WHAT WE WANT TO DO --
ANOTHER LITTLE THING TO TRIM.
NOW WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SHOE WE
DON'T PUT A TWIST IN THE ROOT.
WE WANT TO KEEP IT NICE AND
NEAT.
SO WE START OUT, WE LACE THE
HOLE, THE ROOT THROUGH THE FIRST
HOLE.
WE PULL IT THROUGH.
AND THEN WE CAN'T JUST PULL THIS
IN AND TIGHTEN THE ROOT UP.
YOU HAVE TO STARTEN THE ROOT UP
AS YOU'RE DOING.
SO OR TIGHTEN IT AROUND THAT
CORNER.
PUT MY THUMB ON IT.
AND THEN I CAN PULL THIS THE
REST OF THE WAY THROUGH.
AND PUSH AND THEN TIGHTEN.
AND THEN IT'S TIGHTENED AROUND
THAT CORNER, SO THAT'S THE
STARTING STITCH.
NOW THAT ONE DOESN'T COUNT AS
THE -- GOING TWICE THROUGH EACH
HOLE.
NOW WE DO THE TWICE THROUGH EACH
HOLE THING.
OKAY.
IT GOES IN THE SAME HOLE.
AND AGAIN WE PULL TO SNUG IT UP
ON THE INSIDE, AND PULL IT OVER
AND IT JUST GOES OVER.
THE FIRST COMPLETE WRAP GOES
OVER THAT STARTING WRAP.
SO THAT BURIES THAT.
NOW THE SUCCEEDING ONES WILL TRY
TO LAY SIDE BY SIDE, SO THEY'RE
NEATLY PUT.
IN HOLD THIS DOWN WITH OUR THUMB
SO IT DOESN'T LOOSEN UP.
MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT FLEXIBILITY
IN THE ROOT.
SO IT DOESN'T KINK.
AND WE PULL IT TIGHT.
OKAY.
NOW WE WANT THIS NEXT WRAP NOT
TO GO OVER THE TOP OF THIS, WE
WANT TO LAY SIDE BY SIDE.
SO WE PULLED IT OVER, PUSH IT
WITH OUR FINGER ON THE INSIDE SO
IT'S UP ALONGSIDE OF THAT FIRST
WRAP ON THE INSIDE.
AND THEN REAM THIS HOLE OUT JUST
A LITTLE BIT SO WE GET THROUGH
THERE AGAIN.
OKAY.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO SEW THIS
THROUGH THE SAME HOLE.
AND THEN THIS HOLE IS GETTING
PRETTY FILLED UP WITH ROOTS.
YOU NOTICE WE DIDN'T DRILL THAT
HOLELE WITH A DRILL.
BECAUSE THAT WOULD REMOVE ALL
THE BARK, FIBER FROM THE HOLE.
YOU DON'T SEE SHAVINGS OF BARK,
IT SPREADS THE BARK HOLE OPEN
AND WHEN THAT BARK GETS WET
AGAIN, THE HOLE SWELLS SHUT AND
TIE UP ONTO THE STITCHING.
OKAY.
HERE'S THE ROOT COMING THROUGH
FOR ITS LAST WRAP.
WE PULL IT IN NOW.
BEFORE WE PULL THIS TIGHT, WHAT
WE DO IS WE MAKE A LOOP, WE MAKE
A LOOP LIKE THIS SO WE KEEP THE
EXTERIOR SERVICES OF THE ROOT
OUT.
WE PUT THAT UNDER OUR WRAP.
OKAY.
SO WE GOT SOMETHING HERE TO GRAB
ONTO.
AND WE'VE GOT SOMETHING HERE TO
GRAB ONTO.
AND THEN WE CAN PULL THIS DOWN
LIKE THAT AND AS TIGHT AS WE CAN
PULL IT, AND WE'VE STILL GOT A
LOOP HERE WE CAN PULL TIGHT.
OKAY.
WE'VE GOT THAT DOWN.
OKAY.
THEN WE'LL TAKE THE SLACK UP
FROM THE OUTSIDE BY PULLING THAT
LOOP.
PULL IT TIGHT.
OKAY.
SO THAT'S TIGHT, TIGHTLY SEWN.
NOW WE'LL PULL THIS SLACK UP
FROM THIS LOOP BY PULLING THIS
END.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WRAPS RIGHT
AROUND.
THAT BROKE OFF AFTER IT GOT
THROUGH, BUT WHAT IT DID IS IT
WENT THROUGH AND THEN IT'S UNDER
THIS PIECE AND IT IS DOWN UNDER
THE GUNNEL.
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS
GET IT DOWN UNDER THE GUNNEL,
BUT IT'S WRAPPED THROUGH.
IT CAN'T COME LOOSE.
AND THEN WHAT WE CAN DO, I CAN
TRIM THE REST OF THIS END OFF.
AND IT'S LOCKED IN THERE AND
WILL NEVER COME LOOSE.
IT MAKES THE CANOE LOOK REALLY
NICE BY GRADUATING THE ROOTS.
BUT DON'T WORRY.
HERE'S A PHOTO OF THE SCAN
MODEL.
A VERTICAL BOARD THAT GOES IN
THE ENDS OF THE CANOES.
HERE'S THE END BOARD THAT GOES
UP AND A BENT PIECE OF CEDAR AND
THAT'S THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE END
OF THE CANOE.
IT KEEPS THE CANOE STRONG AND
ESTABLISHES ITS SHAPE.
WE'VE GOT BIG BUNCHES OF CEDAR
HERE.
SO I'M GOING TO LOOK FOR A CLEAR
PIECE THAT'S GOING TO BE WIDE
ENOUGH.
NOW THIS PIECE HAS SOME KNOTS
FURTHER DOWN, SO WE CAN'T REALLY
MAKE LONG RIBS OUT OF IT.
BUT CERTAINLY GOING TO BE BIG
ENOUGH.
I THINK IT'S LONG ENOUGH BEFORE
THE FIRST KNOT.
THERE'S A KNOT HERE.
SO I GOT 2 FEET OF WOOD.
I ONLY NEED.
I'M GOING TO SAW THIS OFF AND
THEN I'M GOING TO SPLIT THAT UP
INTO PIECES FOR TWO HEADBOARDS.
A LITTLE BIT OFF THE SIDE HERE.
I'LL SPLIT THIS IN HALF AGAIN
AND IT SHOULD GIVE ME TWO PIECES
THAT I CAN MAKE THE HEADBOARDS
ON.
NOW I WANT TO TAKE THE KNIFE AND
START MAKING THIS INTO A FLAT
BOARD.
OKAY.
THIS IS ALMOST DOWN TO WHERE WE
WANT.
NOW THE OTHER PART OF THIS, THE
END FRAME IS THE BIG LONG WENT
PIECE.
AND WE'VE GOT TO CARVE THIS TO
SHAPE.
BUT INSTEAD OF DOING THAT RIGHT
NOW, I WANT TO LOOK FOR SOME
CEDAR TO MAKE THE BIG, LONG BENT
PIECE.
I'LL USE IT FOR THE END FRAMES
IN THE CANOE.
THIS IS NICE AND CLEAR WITH NO
KNOTS.
A LITTLE GRAY ON THE OUTSIDE,
BUT THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF
SURFACE WEATHERING.
SO GET IT THE RIGHT SIZE.
SEE HOW NICE THIS EVENLY SPLITS.
JUST ENOUGH OFF HERE ON THE
SURFACE.
THIS IS GOING TO FIT INTO THE
END OF THE CANOE.
SO ACTUALLY THE VERY BARK AT THE
VERY END OF THE CANOE WILL BE ON
EACH SIDE OF THIS.
SO WE NEED TO TAPER.
YOU CAN SEE IT'S NARROW HERE AND
WIDER ON THAT SIDE.
SO WE NEED TO TAPER SO THE BARK
WILL COME RIGHT UP EVEN AND THEN
IT WILL BE RESTITCHED RIGHT
THROUGH THIS WOOD.
BUT FIRST WE'RE GOING TO --
WE'LL BE MAKING THIS WOOD SO WE
CAN BEND IT.
OKAY, NOW WHAT I HAVE TO DO WITH
WITH THIS, LIKE I SAY THIS HAS
TO BE BENT IN A VERY TIGHT BEND.
AND OBVIOUSLY IT DOESN'T -- IT
DOESN'T BEND TOO WELL THE WAY IT
IS NOW.
IT IS PRETTY STIFF.
SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS IS
SPLIT THIS INTO MANY LAYERS.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO SPLIT IT
QUITE TO THE END.
I WANT TO LEAVE A SOLID PIECE ON
ONE END.
SO I'M GOING TO WRAP THIS AROUND
IT AND TIE IT OFF.
SO WE'LL STOP THE SPLIT.
SO I LIKE TRYING TO SPLIT NARROW
STRIPS AT ONE EDGE, BECAUSE
THEY'D NEVER MAKE IT TO THE
OTHER END.
SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M
GOING TO SPLIT THIS IN HALF
FIRST.
AND THEN I'LL PAY CAREFUL
ATTENTION TO HOW IT'S SPLITTING.
IT STANDS PRETTY MUCH IN THE
MIDDLE.
IT'S GOING A LITTLE BIT TO THIS
SIDE.
SO I'M GOING TO DO, I WANT TO
BRING IT BACK TOWARD THE MIDDLE
A LITTLE.
SO I'LL FLEX THIS SIDE JUST A
LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN SPLITTING IT, FLEX IT
THIS WAY.
IT'S GETTING MORE BACK IN THE
MIDDLE.
SO OKAY.
A SPLIT DOWN TO WHERE WE TIED IT
OFF.
NOW WE'LL TAKE THIS HALF AND
WE'LL SPLIT THAT IN HALF.
IF ONE SIDE IS GETTING THICKER,
YOU BEND THE THICK SIDE AND THAT
WILL BRING IT BACK.
IT'S GOING PRETTY GOOD HERE.

OKAY.
SEE IT'S ALREADY NOW GETTING A
LITTLE MORE FLEXIBLE.
OKAY.
SO NOW I'LL SPLIT THIS ONE IN
HALF.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED DOING THIS,
I DIDN'T ALWAYS PICK A PIECE OF
WOOD AND ENDED UP WITH WHAT I
WANTED.
OVER TIME DOING ENOUGH OF THIS,
IT BECOMES PART OF YOU.
OKAY.
NOW WE'VE GOT TO SPLIT IT INTO
FOUR.
NOW WE'LL TAKE EACH ONE OF THESE
AND SPLIT INTO FOUR.
WE'LL GET THE LAST ONE TO SPLIT
RIGHT, WE HAVE SUCCEEDED ON THIS
ONE.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN MAKE AN
END FRAME OF A CANOE OUT OF.
SO THAT'S IT.
THAT'S HOW THIS PART GETS DONE
TO THIS STAGE.
YEAH.
IT'S FLEXIBLE.
YOU WATCH US BUILD A CANOE FOR
ANY LENGTH OF TIME, YOU NOTICE A
LOT OF OUR TIME IS SPENT DEALING
WITH THESE SPRUCES TO COLD THE
CANOE TOGETHER.
I'M THENNING THIS ROOT DOWN,
MAKING IT EVEN SO IT'S FLEXIBLE.
THIS ROOT IS THE KEY TO THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE WHOLE CANOE.
BEING PART OF THAT BUILDING AND
WATCHING IT COME TOGETHER, IT'S
A CONNECTION AND A BOND THAT WE
DEVELOP WITH EACH BOAT THAT WE
BUILD.
BECAUSE PART OF US GOING INTO
THESE PIECES.
THAT'S WHAT I ENJOY OUT OF
BUILDING THESE CANOES HERE IS
WHAT WE SHARE AND WHAT WE PUT
INTO IT.
I LOOK AT WHERE I GOT THE CEDAR,
WHERE WE GOT THE BARK, THE
CAMARADERIE THAT WE SPENT,
DIGGING THE ROOT.
THE LAUGHS HERE AND THE STORIES
THAT WE SHARE HERE BUILDING AND
THE JOURNEY OF WHERE IT'S GOING
TO GO.
>> GRANT SAID THIS BOAT NEEDS TO
BE FED BY KEEPING IT IN THE
WATER.
AND USING IT FOR WHAT IT'S BEING
BUILT FOR.
AND KEVIN WILL DO THAT.
>> FIRST OF ALL, IT'S SUCH AN
HONOR THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN THIS
GIFT FOR OUR WEDDING.
AND JUST THE IDEA OF HOW MANY
YEARS YOU CAN GET USE OUT OF
THIS.
SO JUST BEING PART OF THIS
PROCESS AND KNOWING THAT WE'RE
USING THIS FOR MANY YEARS AND
HOPEFULLY WE CAN PASS IT ONTO
OUR KIDS AND THEN THEY KNOW WE
WORKED ON IT.
>> EVERY TASK YOU TAKE ON THIS
CANOE IS IN THE MOMENT.
YOU'RE JUST CONCENTRATING ON
EACH TASK IN THE MOMENT.
SO IT GIVES YOU THAT, YOU KNOW,
THAT COMMON TO THE PIECE,
BECAUSE YOU KNOW IN THE END
YOU'LL HAVE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL
PIECE ONCE IT'S DONE.
>> EVEN GROWING UP, I MEAN, I
THINK THERE WAS SOMETHING SORT
OF MAGICAL OF WHAT A BIRCHBARK
CANOE IS.
AND JUST TO SEE THE PROCESS
BEING DONE AND WHEN JIM OFFERED
US THE MATERIALS TO MAKE A
BIRCHBARK CANOE, WAS JUST A
REALLY, REALLY TOUCHING.
IT MEANS SO MUCH MORE TO BE A
PART OF THE ACTUAL MAKING AND
SEEING HOW IT'S DONE, THEN
SEEING THE TIME AND THE EFFORT
AS OPPOSED TO BEING GIVEN ONE.
TO BE GIVEN A BIRCHBARK CANOE IS
AMAZING, BUT TO BE A PART
PROCESS IS THAT MUCH MORE
SPECIAL.
WE'RE ARCHAEOLOGISTS BY TRAINING
AND WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
WAS GOING ON IN THE PAST AND IT
HUMANIZES OUR WORK AND MAKES IT
MORE INTERESTING TO ME AS AN
ARCHAEOLOGIST AND TO THE FIRST
NATION OR TRIBAL GROUPS IN
NORTHERN MANITOBA.
IT'S GREAT TO GET THAT ACROSS TO
THEM, THAT THE HUMAN SIDE OF IT,
JUST THE WHOLE PROCESS OF DOING
IT, HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF YEARS PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN PEELING ROOTS, PREPARING
BIRCHBARK, DOING EXACTLY WHAT
WE'RE DOING.
WE MIGHT HAVE A FEW MORE MODERN
TOOLS, MEDAL AND THAT KIND OF
THING.
BUT THE SAME PROCESS HAS BEEN
GOING ON FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
IT'S PART OF A CONTINUE EWEIUM
THAT WE'RE A PART OF AND WITH
THE WORK THAT GRANT HAS BEEN
DOING.
BEING ABLE TO BRING THIS BACK TO
THE COMMUNITY IS JUST SO
IMPORTANT.
SO THIS IS ALL PART OF A LONG
PROCESS OF PEOPLE MAKING THESE
KINDS OF CANOES.
ONE VERY INSIGHTFUL ELDER YEARS
AGO, WHEN SHE WAS TEACHING ME
HOW TO TAN MOOSE HIDES, SHE
PULLED ME OFF TO THE SIDE AND
SHE SAID, MAKE SURE THIS DOESN'T
DIE WITH YOU.
SHE SAID PASS THIS ON.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE
YOUNGER GENERATIONS TO LEARN.
AND I SEE THE SAME THING WITH
THIS.
THE WOMAN WHO SAID THAT WAS
ALICE MOORE AND SHE'S FROM
NORTHERN MANITOBA, FROM A
COMMUNITY CALLED THE NATION.
SHE ALWAYS SAID, YOU KNOW, LIKE
TODAY'S YOUTH HAVE TWO SCHOOLS
OR TWO EDUCATIONS THAT THEY
LEARN FROM.
THEY SAID THEY'VE GOT THE BUSH,
WHAT MOTHER NATURE AND WHAT THE
ELDERS AND THE PEOPLE ARE
TELLING AND THE ACADEMIC SYSTEM.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE YOUTH OF
TODAY HAVE TO BALANCE BETWEEN
BOTH OF THOSE.
AND BEING ABLE TO DO THAT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT.
TO UNDERSTAND, NOT TO FORGET
EITHER ONE.
DON'T PUT TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON
THE LAND AND DON'T PUT TOO MUCH
EMPHASIS ON THE ACADEMICS AND
IT'S A BALANCING WORLD THAT NO
GENERATION PRIOR HAS HAD TO DEAL
WITH LIKE TODAY'S GENERATION.
>> AS ANTHROPOLOGISTS AND
ARCHAEOLOGISTS, WE'VE TAUGHT
SUMMER FIELD SCHOOL.
AND WE'VE TAUGHT BOTH
ARCHAEOLOGY AND OJIBWE CULTURE.
AND AS WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT,
OUR STUDENTS WERE ALWAYS
INTERESTED IN BIRCHBARK CANOES.
SO ONE SUMMER WE REALLY STARTED
RESEARCHING IT AND DECIDED THAT
WE WOULD USE THE STUDENTS THAT
WOULD BE THERE -- ONE OF THEIR
CLASS PROJECTS.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED
REALLY LEARNING ABOUT WHAT ALL
WAS INVOLVED IN MAKING A CANOE.
AND ALSO SINCE WE WERE TEACHING
ABOUT NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES,
WE WANTED TO BE VERY SENSITIVE
TO THE CULTURAL CONTEXT OF THE
CANOE.
AND WE DID NOT NOT WANT TO MAKE
A GENERIC CANOE.
WE WANTED TO MAKE THEM THE WAY
THEY HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE PAST
AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY COULD DO
THAT.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE GOT
IT STARTED.
AFTER THAT IT WAS KIND OF AN
AMBITIONS TO MAKE AS MANY
DIFFERENT TYPES AND STYLES OF
CANOES AS WE POSSIBLY COULD.
AND GRANT WOODWORKER, THOSE
SKILLS ARE OBVIOUSLY EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT.
AND SO HE WAS ABLE TO FIGURE OUT
A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT HOW THE
CANOES WERE PUT TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW JUST BECAUSE OF HIS
BACKGROUND IN WOODWORKING.
THE WHOLE FEELING THAT YOU GET
WHEN YOU ARE REPLICATING SOME OF
THESE PROCESS.
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE
INCREDIBLE SOPHISTICATION OF A
LOT OF THIS TECHNOLOGY.
THEY ALSO DON'T APPRECIATE A LOT
OF THE SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF IT
EITHER.
WHEN WE'RE WORKING ON A LOT OF
THESE PROJECTS, WE TRY TO ALWAYS
KEEP AWARE OF THAT, IF WE'RE
TAKING BIRCHBARK OFF A TREE, WE
LEAVE AN OFFERING TO THE TREE.
BECAUSE IT'S JUST A SIGN OF
RESPECT FOR THE GIFTS THAT THE
FOREST HAS GIVEN US.
AND ALSO FOR THE GREAT GIFT OF
THE WHOLE INVENTION OF THIS
TECHNOLOGY BY PEOPLE WHO CAME
BEFORE US.
>> BEING ABLE TO PASS THIS ONTO
MY CHILDREN, BEING ABLE TO LEARN
FROM MY FATHER, AND GRANT, PASS
THAT ONTO MY CHILDREN.
PEOPLE DON'T GET TO SEE WHAT
HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES.
YOU ARE WITH THIS CAMERA HERE
TODAY ARE SEEING PART OF THAT.
YOU'RE SEEING THIS WHOLE
PROCESS.
YOU'RE SEEING THE LAUGHTER AND
THE JOKING.
THAT'S AS INDIAN PEOPLE DO
ANYWAY.
BUT GOOD FOR THIS, TOO, ANYWAY.
IT'S GOOD FOR HER TO HEAR US
LAUGH OR HIM.
THAT WILL BE UP TO THEM ON WHAT
THEY --
[LAUGHTER]
>> HI, FOLKS.
THE HEAT CAN GET IN THERE.
>> HERE'S A COMPLETED END FRAME
FOR THE CANOE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING THE
OTHER ONE.
PREVIOUSLY BENT THESE PIECES,
CARVED OUT THE END BOARD AND NOW
WE'VE GOT CUT A HOLE FOR THE END
OF THIS TO COME THROUGH.
WELL, WHAT I'VE GOT HERE IS
FIBER FROM BASSWOOD BARK.
YOU TAKE BASSWOOD BARK AND YOU
STRIP IT IT OFF AND 2, 3,
4 INCHES WIDE.
WHATEVER YOU CAN GET.
YOU TAKE A BASSWOOD THAT BIG
AROUND.
YOU HAVE TO DO IT WHEN THE SAP
IS FLOWING SO THE BARK COMES OFF
REAL CLEAN AND THEN YOU SOAK IT
IN THE LAKE.
AND THEN AFTER ABOUT A WEEK, THE
INNER PLAYERS OF THE BARK LOOSEN
UP AND YOU CAN PEEL THAT OFF AND
YOU CAN SEE THE BIG LONG THING
OF FIBER YOU GET.
AND IT'S FAIRLY STRONG.
YOU CAN MAKE IT INTO ROPE OR
STRING OR WHATEVER YOU NEED TO
WRAP STUFF.
IT WAS A MATERIAL THAT WAS USED
PROBABLY FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS
AROUND HERE, JUST A NATURAL
MATERIAL.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE
THAT OUT OF THAT FORM.
IT WILL SEND TO SPRING BACK A
LITTLE BIT AND WE HAVE TO WRAP
IT SO IT MAINTAINS ITS SHAPE.
WE'LL TAKE THESE PIECES OF FIBER
AND PUTTED END BETWEEN THE
COUPLE OF THE SPLIT LAYERS.
WEDGE IT DOWN IN THERE.
THEN I'LL HOLD IT KIND OF BENT
LIKE THAT.
ACTUALLY WHAT I SHOULD DO IS GET
THIS WET.
LET ME GO DIP THIS IN SOME WATER
REAL QUICK.
IT'S WET.
IT WILL BE EASIER TO WRAP
TIGHTLY.
THERE.
OKAY.
NOW SEE I'LL BEND THIS BACK WHEN
I'M WRAPPING.
ACTUALLY PROBABLY BEND IT A
LITTLE BIT MORE THAN IT NEEDS TO
BE, JUST TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS
TIGHT.
THEN WE'LL WRAP IT AND THAT WILL
KEEP THESE TIGHTLY TOGETHER
HERE.
THEN IT WILL HOLD ITS SHAPE AND
WE'LL WRAP IT UP TO THE OTHER
END AND COMPARE IT TO THE SHAPE
IT'S SUPPOSE TO BE.
OKAY.
NOW I'M GOING TO BEND THIS
TOGETHER.
ACTUALLY IT'S WRAPPING WE'RE
PUTTING ON HERE, THIS BASSWOOD
BARK IS NOT ANYTHING THAT WILL
LAST A LONG TIME.
IT WILL DETERIORATE OVER TIME.
BASICALLY WE GET THIS HELD
TOGETHER AND ONCE WE LAY IT INTO
THE CANOE, THE WRAPPING NO
LONGER IS REALLY THAT
SIGNIFICANT.
SO, OKAY.
WE'RE ALL GOOD TO GO WITH THE
FRAMES.
WE GOT THE GUNNELS PRETTY MUCH
LACED.
AND I GOT TO GET WORKING ON
RIBS.
BUT I'M GOING TO GET PEOPLE
STARTED ON GETTING THESE READY.
I'M GOING TO SET THESE INTO
THE CANOE SO THEY WON'T BE SEWN
IN YET.
NOW THESE SET IN SO NOW THE
GUNNELS WILL FIT ON TOP INTO
THESE NOTCHES.
AND WHEN WE SEW THESE TOGETHER,
THESE WILL GET WRAPPED TOGETHER
SO THEY'LL GO TIGHT INTO THOSE
NOTCHES.
OKAY.
THAT'S THE PILE OF RIBS WE'VE
GOT SHORT, WE'RE ABOUT 14 RIBS
SHORT SO I HAVE TO SEE WHAT WE
CAN GET HERE.
TO MAKE CANOE RIBS TO WHAT WE'RE
START OUT WITH A CEDAR LOG.
WE SPLIT THE LOG IN HALF AND
WE'LL BE SPLITTING THE LOG IN
QUARTERS AND WE'LL BE LOOKING
FOR THE RELATIVELY CLEAR WOOD.
WE'VE GOT TO AVOID THE KNOTS.
NOW IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY SPLIT
CEDAR PERFECTLY EVEN, WHAT YOU
HAVE TO DO IS PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS
SPLIT IT CLOSE TO IN HALVES.
THE SPLIT WILL FOR THE GRAIN
QUITE WELL IF YOU FOLLOW THE
RULE OF ALWAYS SPLITTING IT IN
HALF.
I SUPPOSE I MAKE THIS LOOK EASY,
BUT I COULDN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY
HUNDREDS OF THESE I HAVE SPLIT
ALREADY.
SO YOU CAN KIND OF GET TO WHERE
YOU CAN ALMOST DO IT WITH YOUR
EYES CLOSED.
TO LINE THE INSIDE OF THE CANOE
WE NEED THIN PIECES OF CEDAR.
I GO INSIDE THE OF THE BARK AND
THE RIBS GO OVER THE TOP OF
THAT.
WE NEED QUITE A BIT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO MAKE
SOME MORE.
A PIECE THAT MIGHT MAKE ONE RIB
IN THICKNESS, GENERALLY MAKES
FOUR PIECES OF PLANNING.
WE DO THIS SORT OF LIKE THE RIBS
WE SPLIT THINGS IN HALF-AND-HALF
AND HALF.
WE KEEP GOING A LITTLE THINNER.
GO SLOW UNTIL YOU GET DOWN A
WAYS AND IT WILL SPEED UP.
AND THERE WE ARE.
AND YOU CAN SEE IT COMES OUT
WITH A FAIRLY NICE SMOOTH
SURFACE.
WE WON'T SHAVE THAT DOWN OR
ANYTHING.
WE'LL JUST USE THAT SURFACE
INSIDE THE CANOE AND SEE THE
NICE, THIN FLEXIBLE PIECES.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE CANOE
RIBS.
THIS IS WHAT GIVES THE CANOE
IT'S SHAPE AND ITS STRENGTH.
NOTHING PHYSICAL THAT ATTACHES
THESE TO THE BOAT.
THEY'RE JUST BASICALLY STAY IN
PLACE BY FRICTION.
THE RIBS ARE JUST BENT BY
EYEBALL, NOT BENT BY ANY KIND OF
A FORM OR SHAPE OR ANYTHING.
I'LL BE BENDING THOSE JUST
PRETTY MUCH BY LOOKING AT THEM.
A LITTLE BIT STIFF YET.
WE HAVE TO LET THEM HEAT JUST A
LITTLE LONGER.
OKAY.
OK.
PUT THIS THING ON THAT END.
REAL TIGHT.
OKAY.
JUST GIVE IT ONE WRAP AROUND
THERE.
WRAP IT AND WRAP IT IN BETWEEN.
THERE WE ARE.

OKAY.
WRAP THAT.
OKAY.
THERE'S ANOTHER SET OF RIBS
BENT.
WHAT I DO WHEN I BEND THE RIBS,
I KNOW ABOUT HOW WIDE THE BOTTOM
OF THE CANOE IS IN DIFFERENT
PLACES.
I'LL BEND THEM AND GRADUALLY GET
THEM SMALLER AND SMALLER, I HAVE
TO BEND A SET FOR HERE, A SET
FOR HERE AND SOME MORE THAT ARE
A LITTLE WIDER.
WE HAVE ENOUGH PAIRS THAT WE CAN
FILL ALL THE SPACES.
THEN ONE HALF OF THAT WILL GO
AND DO THE OTHER END.
AND WE'LL HAVE THE RIBS FOR THE
WHOLE CANOE.
WE'VE GOT THIS TRIMMED DOWN,
WE'RE GOING TO START STITCHING.
AND WE'LL START WITH A HOLE
THROUGH HERE.
THIS IS GOING RIGHT TO THAT BENT
WOOD PIECE.
WE'LL BE SEWING WITH THE MIDDLE
OF OF THE ROOT AND SEWING BOTH
DIRECTIONS.
ACTUALLY WE'LL PUT THE ROOT
THROUGH TWICE THE FIRST TIME.
OKAY.
NOW WE'LL PUT THE ROOT THROUGH,
PUSH THE BARK TOGETHER TIGHT,
AND THAT WILL MAKE A WRAP OVER
THE TOP, IT PULLS THE BARK
TOGETHER.
WE'LL GO DOWN MAKE THE NEXT
HOLE.
WE'LL MAKE THESE HOLES ABOUT AN
INCH APART.
>> IT GOES THROUGH PRETTY
EASILY.
>> OH, YEAH.
SOFT WOOD.
THAT'S THE SIDE THAT IT CAME
OUT.
THAT'S THE HARDEST PART TO SEW.
WE'RE SEWING WITH BOTH END.
WE'LL MAKE AN X-SHAPED STITCH.
SO WE PULL THIS TIGHT AND WE
HAVE THIS SNUGGED UP.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT TO OPEN THE
HOLE UP A LITTLE BIT WITH THIS.
WE USE THIS TO OPEN THE HOLE UP,
BECAUSE IT'S SMOOTH AND IT WON'T
CUT THE ROOTS.
WHERE THEY'LL ALL HAVE KIND OF A
SHARP EDGE ON THEM.
SO WE TAKE THE OTHER END OF THE
ROOT.
AND WE SEW THROUGH, WE PULL THIS
TIGHT.
NOW THAT TIGHTENED THE BARK DOWN
AND NOW YOU CAN SEE WE'RE A
LITTLE HIGHER OFF THAT THEN WE
WERE.
SO WE CAN TRIM A LITTLE MORE.
OKAY.
WE'LL JUST GO DOWN AND DOT NEXT
HOLE AND SEE ABOUT WHERE WE ARE,
SO WE KNOW WE'RE GETTING BACK
INTO THE WOOD.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
WE'RE AT THE POINT NOW WHERE
WE'RE GOING TO REALLY START
SHAPING THIS CANOE.
IT IT LOOKS LIKE A CANOE, BUT
THE BOTTOM IS NOT NICELY SHAPED.
THERE'S HOLLOWS IN IT AND THOSE
WILL ALL DISAPPEAR AS SOON AS WE
PUT THE RIBS.
SO IT'S ALWAYS KIND OF A --
REALLY EXCITING PART OF THE
CANOE BUILD.
SO I DON'T CUT THROUGH THE BARK
AND THE LACING, I'LL PUT THE
EXTRA PIECE OF BARK UNDERNEATH.
THERE.
NOW WE'VE GOT THAT SPLIT, SO IT
CAN START TO GET FLEXIBLE.
>> DOUBLE CHECK THESE RIBS.
FIND IT'S JUST RIGHT.
THE FIRST PIECE OF PLANKING
WE'LL GO RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE
OF THE BOTTOM.
AND A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU'RE
SPLITTING THIS PLANKING, YOU GET
OUTSIDE SPLIT THAT HAS A CURVE
OF THE LOG ON IT.
A LOT OF TIMES I'LL USE THOSE
RIGHT DOWN THE CENTER, THEY'RE
NATURALLY TAPERED TOWARD BOTH
ENDS AND THEY'RE KIND OF ROUND.
FIRST THING WE'RE GOING TO DO,
WE'RE GOING TO HEAT THE BARK UP.
SO POUR SOME HOT WATER, A LITTLE
OVER THE GUNNELS.
AS WE GET READY TO PUT THE RICKS
IN, WE'LL BE PUTTING MORE.
FOR NOW I WANT TO LIMBER THE
BARK UP SO I CAN SLIDE THINGS
IN.
PARK GETS REAL FLEXIBLE.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> WE'LL CARVE THIS IN.
WE'LL KIND OF WANT TO MATCH THE
CURVE THERE.
BECAUSE WE'LL BE STICKING IT WAY
IN THERE AND THEY'LL REINFORCE
THE SIGNED -- SIDES OF THE BARK.
SO THE FIRST ONE GETS A LITTLE
CURVED LIKE THAT.
OKAY.
SO IT WILL LAY IN THERE.
OKAY.
THAT'S GOING TO LAY IN GOOD.
NOW THESE ARE PROBABLY SHOWING A
LITTLE GAP DOWN HERE, BECAUSE
THE BOAT IS TAPERING OUT.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE'LL TAKE SOME
OF THOSE NARROW ONES AND WE'LL
SLIDE THEM UNDERNEATH HERE AFTER
WE GET A FEW RIBS IN HERE.
ONE MORE WIDE PIECE OF PRANKING
AND PROBABLY GET US CLOSE.
OKAY.
THAT'S AS HIGH AS WE NEED THAT
TO GO.
SO NOW IS WHEN WE START HEATING
EVERYTHING UP.
WE WANT ALL OF THE LACINGS A
LITTLE BIT SOFT.
NOW TO FIT THE RIB, WHAT WE DO
WE SET IS DOWN IN PLACE, WE HOLD
IT DOWN.
AND THEN I'LL MAKE A PENCIL MARK
AT THE TOP OF THE GUNNELS.
THEN WHAT I'LL DO, AS WE SAWED
OFF ON THE PENCIL MARK, THAT'S
THE STARTERS.
IT MAY BE THAT WE NEED TO KEEP
THINGS A LITTLE TO ONE SIDE OF
THE PENCIL MARK.
ONCE WE FIGURE THAT OUT, IT WILL
BE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME FOR ALL
THE RIBS.
SO THAT WILL ALLOW US TO NOT
HAVE TO RECUT RIBS.
NOW THE END OF THE RIBS GO BACK
A FEW INCHES, TAPER OUT THE RIBS
A LITTLE BIT LIKE THAT.
AND THEN WE CUT A 45-DEGREE
BEVEL AT THE END.
AND THAT MATCHES THAT BEVEL ON
THE BACK SIDE OF THE GUNNELS.
PUT THE RIB IN, SET IT IN.
AND YOU STICK IT UP IN THE
NOTCHES UNDER THE GUNNEL.
AND THEN DRIVE IT INTO PLACE.
IF WE'RE GOING TO GO.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL PROBABLY
FIT PERFECT.
TAP ON IT, MAKE SURE IT GETS
INTO THAT SLOT WHERE IT'S
SUPPOSE TO GO.
DRIVE IT HOME.
OKAY.
THERE'S THE FIRST RIB.
NEXT RIB.
MAKE SURE IT'S UP THERE.
I'LL MAKE SURE IT'S FEEDING

THAT'S NOT QUITE IN.
THERE IT'S GOING.
WE'LL KEEP GOING UNTIL WE PUT
THE RIBS IN UP TO THE CENTER AND
THEN WE'LL START FROM THE OTHER
END AND THE LAST RIB WE PUT IN
WILL BE THIS ONE.
AND WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS THE
PROBLEM WITH PUTTING THE LAST
RIB IN, IS AS YOU NOTICE WHEN WE
PUT THE RIBS IN, WHEN WE SET
THEM IN, WE HAD TO SET THEM AT
QUITE AN ANGLE.
THIS RIB STARTED WAY OUT HERE.
THE PROBLEM IS WHEN WE GET TO
THE LAST RIB, THERE'S ALREADY A
RIB THAT'S IN THE WAY HERE.
AND WHEN YOU PUT IT OUT THIS
WAY, IF IT'S ON TOP OF THAT RIB,
DOESN'T FIT.
BECAUSE THE THICKNESS OF RIB
TAKES UP LOTS OF SPACE.
SO WHEN WE GET TO THAT, WE'LL BE
DOING A LOT OF BEATING RIBS BACK
AND FORTH AND PUTTING THEM IN
ONE END AT A TIME.
THE LAST RIB WHEN IT GOES IN, WE
GOT TO LEAVE ONE END WAY OUT
HERE AND WE POUND IT IN AND
POUND IT WAY PAST.
SO IT ENDS UP LIKE AN S-CURVE
FOR A LITTLE WHILE UNTIL WE GET
IT ALL STRAIGHTENED OUT.
WELL, WE'VE FILMED GETTING THE
FIRST HALF OF THE RIBS IN,
BASICALLY THE SECOND HALF OF THE
RIBS WAS JUST A MIRROR IMAGE OF
WHAT WE DID ON THE FIRST HALF.
WE BENT THE ENDS OF THE OUTSIDE
GUNNELS UP.
SO THEY CAME UP, DID A LITTLE
MORE TRIMMING HERE.
AND KEVIN AND MYRA ARE DOING THE
LOW FILL-IN STITCHING.
THERE'S A LITTLE OPENING HERE
BETWEEN THE HEADBOARD AND THE
GUNNELS.
WE HAVE ONE MORE PIECE OF
WOODWORK THAT GOES ON THE TOP OF
THE FUNDRAISES.
AND -- THE GUNNELS.
THAT PROTECTS THE LACING AGAINST
BEING SCARED UP OR BROKEN.
PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK US, YOU KNOW,
THEY THINK OF A BIRCHBARK CANOE
AS BEING, WELL, DO YOU REALLY
HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH IT?
BECAUSE IT'S JUST BIRCHBARK
BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF FRAGILE.
NO, IT'S NOT A FRAGILE CRAFT.
IT'S A BIG IRON CLUB AND IT'S
HEAVY.
THINK BASEBALL BAT.
YOU CAN TAKE A LOT OF BEATING.
YOU CAN RUN IN THE ROCKS.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HURT THIS
CANOE.
IT'S WHOLE LOT MORE STURDY THAN
PEOPLE.
WE'VE GOT THESE ALL CARVED OUT
HERE.
WE'RE HEATING THE ENDS BECAUSE
THE ENDS HAVE TO BEND UP TO FIT
THIS CURVE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT
STARTED, HEAT THEM UP IN THE
WATER.
AND GET THAT CURVE STARTING
BEFORE WE PUT THEM ON.
WHAT EAR GOING TO DO IS WE'RE
GOING TO START PEGGING THIS
DOWN.
AGAIN WE USE OUR SQUARE PEGS
APPROACH.
WE PUT A PEG IN AT THIS ANGLE
AND THE NEXT PEG IS SLIGHTLY AT
THIS ANGLE, INSTEAD OF PUTTING
THEM VERTICALLY.
WE SWITCH THE ANGLE AT EACH ONE.
THAT GIVES IT A LITTLE MORE
HOLDING STRENGTH.
WE'LL BE LACING THROUGH HERE,
BUT THEY'LL HAVE A TENDENCY TO
SLIP OFF.
SO WHAT WE DO HE WE JUST MAKE
THIS LITTLE NOTCH IN HERE WHERE
THAT LACE IS GOING TO GO.
SO THEN THERE'S A LITTLE EDGE
FOR IT TO CATCH ON RIGHT HERE
WHEN WE SEW IT.
THERE.
WE DO THAT.
WE SEWED THIS ONE.
SO THIS TRIM THESE ENDS AND THE
CANOE IS BASICALLY DONE.
WE'LL HAVE TO LET IT DRY OUT A
FOR A FEW DAYS AND WE'LL PITCH
THE SEAMS AND PUT IT IN THE
LAKE.
THIS CANOE NOW HAS NICE, SMOOTH,
EVEN CURVES.
YOU CAN SEE HERE'S THE JOINT
BETWEEN THE TWO PIECES OF BARK
THAT WE USED.
THIS PIECE GOES TO THAT END.
THIS PIECE GOING GOSS THAT END.
THIS SEAM WILL BE SEALED.
ALL OF THESE WILL BE SEALED AND
THEN WE'LL GO OVER ANYPLACE
THERE'S A LITTLE CRACK OR A
LITTLE OPENING IN THE BARK.
THERE'S A LITTLE BITTY HOLE
RIGHT HERE.
WE'LL PITCH THOSE ALL OVER AND
SEAL EVERYTHING UP.
THAT'S THE BLACK STRIPES YOU SEE
ON BIRCHBARK CANOES.
IT'S THE SEALER.
TRADITIONALLY THIS WOULD BE DONE
WITH A MIXTURE OF SPRUCE PITCH,
POWDERED UP CHARCOAL AND A
LITTLE BIT OF ANIMAL FAT TO KEEP
IT FLEXIBLE, BECAUSE SPRUCE
PITCH BY ITSELF IS CELEBRATION.
THE ONLY THING THAT WE USE IN
MATERIALS THAT'S NONTRADITIONAL,
WE USE A POLYURETHANE CALLING
THAT'S BLACK.
IT LOOKS JUST LIKE THE PITCH AND
CHARCOAL MIX.
IT DOESN'T COME OFF.
IT DOESN'T CHIP.
DOESN'T NEED CONSTANT ATTENTION
AND REPAIR.
WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IS
THIS EXPAND.
AND WE CAN TAKE THIS KNOWLEDGE
THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MORE OR
LESS RESURRECT START GETTING
MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED AND SPREAD
THIS BACK TO THE PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD HOPE TO
DO IS GET MORE AND MORE PEOPLE
INVOLVED AND HAVING PEOPLE COME
OVER AND SAY I WANT TO
PARTICIPATE.
I WANT TO BECOME A PART OF THIS
CANOE BUILDING.
AND THAT'S WHERE MY INTERESTS
ARE.
>> THIS FILM IS MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE MINNESOTA ARTS AND CULTURE
HERITAGE FUND AND THE CITIZENS