Bruce Larson
Curious about Wooden Canoes
Came across this model at the Campobello Island New Brunswick public library where they have a small museum. The canoe was built by Tomah Joseph of the Passamaquoddy tribe in Eastern Maine and New Brunswick. He built many types of birchbark models, containers and household items and his craftsmanship was well respected. The display had several of these items. He was a mentor to Franklin Delano Roosevelt in FDR's younger years when growing up on Campobello. He built an 18 ft birchbark for FDR that now hangs in the visitors center for the Roosevelt summer cottage on Campobello .
The pictures don't do the model justice because it was behind glass but awesome in person! The librarian was understandably reluctant to take it out of the case so I could get a better picture, but it was worth a try! It is about 18-20 inches long. Something I had never seen before is the absolutely stunning porcupine quill work over the birchbark. The lacing along the sheer and stem is beautiful. Note there is a mirror behind the model hence the "double" image.
The pictures don't do the model justice because it was behind glass but awesome in person! The librarian was understandably reluctant to take it out of the case so I could get a better picture, but it was worth a try! It is about 18-20 inches long. Something I had never seen before is the absolutely stunning porcupine quill work over the birchbark. The lacing along the sheer and stem is beautiful. Note there is a mirror behind the model hence the "double" image.
