Canoe in the forest

[stevet]

Not the typical canoe we discuss and dissect here but I thought an interesting read nonetheless.

The Canoe in the Forest | Hakai Magazine

An unfinished boat hidden on a remote island in Alaska illuminates a missing chapter in the history of traditional Haida and Tlingit canoe building

hakaimagazine.com

 

[Alan Gage]

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

 

[Caledonia]

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

 

[clemency]

What a great piece. Will be passing along to a few colleagues.

 

[ppine]

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.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Yes, that was fascinating. Thanks!

 

[snapper]

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