Building a bark canoe has been a dream of mine for a long time, so I'd better go ahead and start planning on doing it. Does anyone know the name or number of a birch bark builder who teaches one-on-one, or even in small groups? I'm in Virginia, so just going out and knocking around with birch and cedar until I get it right isn't a terribly viable option. I've got a lifetime of woodworking and maybe a dozen skin-on-frames under my belt. Thank you.
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Does anyone teach a one-on-one birch bark canoe course?
- Thread starter MyKneesHurt
- Start date
I don't know of anyone but your best bet might be to look for someone in Quebec or New Brunswick, both have a) birch trees and b) a long history of bark canoe making.
I did find this article online from 2022:
I did find this article online from 2022:
There is Tom Byers, https://naturalbirchbarkcanoes.com/
Here's another, https://www.barkcanoe.com/classes.htm
northhouse.org
I watched a fella work on a new build at the Wilderness Canoe Gathering in Vermont once, pretty amazing skill.
Here's another, https://www.barkcanoe.com/classes.htm
Birch Bark Canoe Building: From the Harvest to the Building Bed, North House Folk School Course
North House Folk School Course
northhouse.org
I watched a fella work on a new build at the Wilderness Canoe Gathering in Vermont once, pretty amazing skill.
Steve Cayard :: Birchbark Canoe Builder
Steve Cayard builds traditional Wabanaki style birchbark canoes in the tradition of the north eastern Native American tribes
stevecayard.com
A very noble aspiration MKH. I hope you have deep pockets.
I think Ely Folk School in Ely Minnesota still builds them with you.
elyfolkschool.org
other possibilities …
John is a great guy to talk to at the bark canoe store. They also have very good hand carved paddles and tumplines .
Good luck to you.
Bob.
BBCP - Ely Folk School
Welcome to the Birch Bark Canoe Project (BBCP) Thank you to all of our participants and supporters! We respectfully honor the Anishinaabe origin of the birch bark canoe and share its tradition to help preserve and revitalize cultural knowledge. Crafting and paddling birch bark canoes together...
elyfolkschool.org
other possibilities …
Building an Algonquin birchbark canoe
the construction of birchbark canoes among the Algonquin Indians
www.birchbarkcanoe.net
Learn to Build Your Own Birchbark Canoe
Learn the skills necessary to build, restore and maintain a birchbark canoe.
www.barkcanoe.com
John is a great guy to talk to at the bark canoe store. They also have very good hand carved paddles and tumplines .
Good luck to you.
Bob.
Last edited:
Yuuuuuuuuup.
I did the math once and it would be cheaper to move to Maine for a summer and knock around with found materials than it would be to pay for a 1-on-1 class. (That was pre-pandemic math, though, so who knows these days.)
I don't know how much it would be. I'm guessing 10 to 12 grand, but in the grand scheme of things you would end up with a beautiful boat and even more valuable, a special skill set. I'd say go for it.
Wonderful aspiration! Hope this link works for you. http://www.birchbarkcanoe.net/
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I knew two guys that built a birch bark canoe with only the book THE BARK AND SKIN BOATS OF NORTH AMERICA as a guide. I couldn’t find my copy this morning, I would guess there are plenty of them in used book stores.
Minnesota Public Television has a documentary about some white guy teaching some Native Americans how to build a birchbark canoe in the traditional way, which is pretty comprehensive.
Tremendous amount of labor collecting the natural materials. Finding the right birch tree is also not the most easiest tree, in the forest to locate.
In the early seventies, while working for the US Forest Service, I took a bunch of YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS kids and my future wife to visit with Bill Hafeman of rural Big Fork, Minnesota. Mr. Hafeman was building a big fur trade canoe for the Minnesota Historical Society. Very educational visit with a great guy. There is a video on the internet about him and his canoe building called THE BIRCH CANOE BUILDER. I would link to it if I could, however technical knowledge has passed me by (that, and I have refused to keep up with). I suspect google is your friend.
David Gidmark wrote some good books about Algonquin crafts, birch bark canoes being one of them.
Minnesota Public Television has a documentary about some white guy teaching some Native Americans how to build a birchbark canoe in the traditional way, which is pretty comprehensive.
Tremendous amount of labor collecting the natural materials. Finding the right birch tree is also not the most easiest tree, in the forest to locate.
In the early seventies, while working for the US Forest Service, I took a bunch of YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS kids and my future wife to visit with Bill Hafeman of rural Big Fork, Minnesota. Mr. Hafeman was building a big fur trade canoe for the Minnesota Historical Society. Very educational visit with a great guy. There is a video on the internet about him and his canoe building called THE BIRCH CANOE BUILDER. I would link to it if I could, however technical knowledge has passed me by (that, and I have refused to keep up with). I suspect google is your friend.
David Gidmark wrote some good books about Algonquin crafts, birch bark canoes being one of them.
You can purchase the recently deceased Harold Deal's family birchbark canoe here:
I think that North House Folk School, Grand Marais MN on Lake Superior’s north shore has had a class on building a birch bark canoe.
MyKneesHurt,
What if? You watch, learn, collect and gain confidence to the building of your birch bark canoe. What have you gained or lost?
The sooner you convey the search, hunt, and building the stronger and wiser you become.
Chase the healthy want,
Dirigo
What if? You watch, learn, collect and gain confidence to the building of your birch bark canoe. What have you gained or lost?
The sooner you convey the search, hunt, and building the stronger and wiser you become.
Chase the healthy want,
Dirigo
love that quote...chase the healthy want....good advice as we all age much too quickly
Here is a birchbark ‘kit’ from the forty’s going to be auctioned off this afternoon. Already in a shipping crate. Some assembly required.
Jim
Jim
Here's an interview with a Maine birch bark canoe builder who sadly passed away 6 years ago.
A 2017 article about a birchbark canoe building program at Fort William, Thunder Bay, Ontario:
"For the past two years, Gail Bannon, Fort William First Nation’s community and recreational coordinator, has lead a group of local youth in canoe building. The small team has built a 15-foot and an 18-foot birchbark canoe completely by hand."
paddlingmag.com
"For the past two years, Gail Bannon, Fort William First Nation’s community and recreational coordinator, has lead a group of local youth in canoe building. The small team has built a 15-foot and an 18-foot birchbark canoe completely by hand."
Birchbark Dreams: Canoe Building Connects First Nations Youth To Their Roots
Gail Bannon’s traditional birchbark canoe building program teaches craftsmanship and respect—for the land, culture and each other.
paddlingmag.com
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