The Power of the Canoe

Great story, I've recently spoken to a metis gentleman in the Lac Saint-Jean region who is doing the same kind of work with the In-nu (Montagnais) people of the area.
 
Thanks for the reply 'Beaver'. I checked out your website and was immediately mesmerized by the great vintage shots you have in your manuscript...a book I might add, that warrants being published to share this most fascinating craft. Being from the West coast I'm not very familiar with the birch bark tradition but find it really interesting and your work to be commended.

Thanks
Dan
 
Thanks for sharing our Kickstarter project! We appreciate all of the support from the WCHA and all the members! I just thought I would write a little about the project and how Kickstarter works.

To start, head on over to the page, click the link below:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/voyagesofrediscovery/the-power-of-the-canoe-birch-bark-canoes-and-nativ

Kickstarter is essentially a internet community fundraising website that allows individuals to make small or large donations to projects of their choice. Not only do the "Backers" get the joy of supporting valuable projects each for each pledge edge backer recieves a Reward.

Check out our rewards, they range from stickers, the DVD, CROOKED KNIVES, canoe trips on the Columbia River, even scale model and full size Birch Bark Canoes.

The catch with Kickstarter is that it is an all or nothing fundraising campaign. If we do not reach our goal, we do not receive any of the pledges and no ones credit card is charged. So if you become a backer and really want your reward, it helps everyone if you get the word out there. Share the link with your friends, family and network.

This spring my friend John Zinser (he was on the Wooden Canoe Journal cover with the birch bark canoe) and I will be traveling to Lake Temagami to build birch bark canoes with the young people on Bear Island. Not only are we extremely excited to be working with the teen-agers and youth of bear island but we are also excited to learn from the elders and those who want to collaborate on this project. We will be facilitating a 1-2 week material harvesting canoe trip and will be leading the canoe building program with help and support from the bear island community. John and I are young our selves, only 23 and we want to help foster a new canoe generation across north America.

That is what this documentary will be about, The Power of the Canoe. It will demonstrate the positive influence canoes, especially traditional canoes (birch bark and dugout) can have on native and non-native youth across north america. This spring we will be building birch bark canoes, this fall we will be building 5-10 dug-out canoes for native and non-native communities situated on and near the Columbia River. If you would like to help with either of the projects let me know!

We truly appreciate any support you can offer (financial, logistical, materials, canoes, hand tools, auction items, anything). So check out our kickstarter page, watch the movie at the top of the page and share the link with anyone you feel might be interested.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/voyagesofrediscovery/the-power-of-the-canoe-birch-bark-canoes-and-nativ

The more people who know about the Power of the Canoe, the more people will be positively affected by the Power of the Canoe.

Thank you for your support and may the River be with you!
 
Check out this article that just came out on Canoe & Kayak online magazine. It really explains what The Power of the Canoe is all about.

http://www.canoekayak.com/canoe/birchbark-revival/


Here is the Kickstarter again! Thank you to all the WCHA members who have helped make this project become a reality!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/voyagesofrediscovery/the-power-of-the-canoe-birch-bark-canoes-and-nativ

Camp Wabun Birch Bark Canoe Restoration

https://vimeo.com/43258497
 
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