Last updated: November 29, 2023
Article
Building a Bark Canoe at Grand Portage
NPS Photo / G.M. Spoto
A Light Craft from Locally Sourced Materials
The fur trade depended on bark canoes, which required frequent repairs when traveling along rocky rivers.
… when the canoe struck on the stump of a tree, and unfortunately where the banks were so steep that there was no place to unload, except a small spot, on which we contrived to dispose the lading in the bow, which lightened the canoe so as to raise the broken part of it above the surface of the water; by which contrivance we reached a convenient situation. It required, however, two hours to complete the repair, when the weather became dark and cloudy, with thunder, lightning, and rain
-The Journals of Alexander Mackenzie
Birch Canoes Today
Every few years the staff at Grand Portage National Monument produce a birch bark canoe, using the same process as the Indigenous peoples of the boreal forest used for hundreds of years. Beginning with harvesting materials, the entire project takes one or more seasons years to complete. Teen rangers peeled and split white cedar logs to prepare for the gunwale and slats that line the canoe. Birch and spruce root transformed into parts of the boat as you see in the following photos. Construction will resume when the Historic Depot reopens and summer staff can demonstrate what would traditionally take a Native family one-two weeks to complete.
Photo courtesy of T. Hahn
Harvesting Materials
Building materials for canoe construction are products of the boreal forest - spruce root, birch bark, white cedar, and spruce pitch. Each year, staff sustainably peels bark from wiigwaasaatig (birch), leaving a layer of bark to preserve the tree. New interpreters also slog into bogs to pull zhingob gaawaandag (spruce) roots for sewing materials, then learn to peel and split the roots for use.
NPS Photo / G.M. Spoto
Determining the Shape
Sheets of birch bark are stitched together with spruce root and then template is laid on top of the stitched bark. The bark is white side in and the template will be weighted in place with rocks.
NPS Photo / G.M. Spoto
Staking the Sides
The excess bark is bent around the weighted template to form sides and held in place with stakes. A cloth protects bark from sunlight and keeps it damp in between work sessions.
Photo courtesy of A.M. Adkins
Attaching the Sides
The cedar gunwale is clamped in place to hold additional bark extensions, stitched to the bottom piece using watap (spruce root).
NPS Photo / G.M. Spoto
Root Sewing
To stich the bark together, the builder first pierces holes in the bark with an awl before passing spruce root through in a sewing-like fashion. Althought the root needs to be wet and pliable, a dry end can act like a needle to thread through the hole.
NPS Photo / G.M. Spoto
Lashing the Gunwale
More watap lashes the inner and outer gunwale together. This year, one member of the staff made decorative grommets to insert between the birch bark sides and the cedar gunwale for reinforcement.
NPS Photo / G.M. Spoto
The Man Board
The profile of the bow and stern of the canoe reflect the place where they were made. The form that reinforces and shapes the bow or stern is made from bent cedar strips (all one piece of wood, partially split), and a board that is roughly human-shaped, hence the name Man Board.
NPS Photo / G.M. Spoto
Man Board Installed
A man board is attached in the bow and stern to reinforce their shape even before cedar strips are added. Distinct canoe silhouettes reflect their region.
NPS Photo / G.M. Spoto
Cedar
One of the trees essential for canoe building, and a product of the boreal forest is giizhik (Northern White Cedar). Staff split logs and shape them with draw knives, holding them for work on a shaving horse.
To be continued as the work progresses...