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Canoe in the forest

Fascinating article, thanks for sharing!

I've wondered how those ancient dugouts could be paddled with such a round hull shape but after reading about the final step where they fill them with hot water, which changes the shape and increases the width, it makes more sense.

Alan
 
That is a great article. It’s culturally more meaningful, informative, and tells a much broader story to see the canoe in the context from which it came rather than removed from the site. It reminds me of the quarry on Easter Island where the Moai lay on their backs partly completed next to others who were starting their journey to the shoreline. The object in the original site tells a richer story that is lost once removed. Anyway…back to canoes. Rob
 
What a great piece. Will be passing along to a few colleagues.
 
People forget that a lot of the old canoes were large. Some had sails and went in the salt water. The Makah hunted whales from their big cedar canoes. John Muir toured SE Alaska in a cedar dugout canoe on in the 1870s with a group. Canoes are the Great North American contribution to boats.
 
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Thanks for sharing that article. Here on the other side of the country a few people I know who are Abenaki have been making dugout canoes for a few years now. They just did a session with the tribe in Missisquoi (VT) and then launched the canoe at the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. It was done as a cultural event so the knowledge will continue on to the younger members in the tribe. Right now, the tribe I'm affiliated with near Brattleboro, is discussing trying to make one for our group. Hopefully that will be something we can tackle in 2025.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper
 
The construction of the old cedar canoes is straight forward. A big cedar log is hollowed out with a combination of burning and the use of adzes. Once the proper thickness is achieved, then the hull is filled with water and hot rocks until the water boils. Then a tarp is thrown over the whole works to steam the hull. Then the hull is spread apart and the thwarts are added. Sometimes a top section is added to the bow and stern. Holy cow they are cool.
 
Fascinating article, thanks for sharing. I picked up this book at the Royal BC Museum in Victoria last summer. It has lots of detail on history and construction as well as pictures. Would recommend.

20250127_083249.jpg
 
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