Building a Bark Canoe at Grand Portage

Partially completed bark canoe

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.

Bark remains on the standing tree.

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.

Harvesting and preparing spruce root.

NPS Photo / GM Spoto

Watap (Spruce Root)

Zesegaandag (Black Spruce) grows in bogs and marshes. Its roots grow in wet conditions, which makes them the perfect material to stitch together a watercraft. Root is pulled from under the moss and is kept wet and pliable for sewing. Prepare spruce root by stripping the bark and splitting it in half so one side lies flat against the bark of the canoe.

Fitting a sheet of bark to the template.

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.

Forming the sides.

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.

Extending the sides to their full height.

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).

Sewing with 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.

Gunwale lashing and decorative grommets.

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.

A Man Board, internal bow or stern form.

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.

Man Board installed

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.

These logs will be split to make slats for the canoe interior.

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.

Boiling water softens a cedar strip before bending. The ribs are wedged and tied in place until they dry.

NPS Photo / GM Spoto

Bending the Ribs

Once the birch hull is complete and cedar is split, it is time to make ribs. Soaked wood forms each rib. To soften a strip, pour boiling water over it until it can bend without breaking. Wedge a board into the damp rib to hold it in place, and tie the ends to secure the bend while it dries.

Hammering a completed rib in place.

NPS Photo / GM Spoto

Installing the Ribs

The shaped and trimmed ribs are removed before lining the inside of the canoe with cedar planking. Then the ribs are hammered into place to secure the planking, giving the canoe a smooth contour.

Cedar ribs and planking installed.

NPS Photo / GM Spoto

Completed Interior

Here planking is held securely by the ribs.