We meet Earl Nyholm, a member of the Ojibwe Nation, as
he walks through the woods on Madeleine Island, Wisconsin. He's looking
for just the right
birch tree to select for the bark which will be used in the making of a
traditional Ojibwe canoe. He talks about the respect that the Ojibwe
People have for nature and for the spirit of the particular tree used
in the making of a canoe following the traditions that had been handed
down through the generations. We are told that this spot is a good one
for building this canoe as Madeline Island was a sacred place and a
center for the Ojibwe Nation in earlier times.
We watch the entire process from peeling the bark from the
tree to shaping the form of the canoe with heavy rocks and then the
elegant stitching together of the canoe's parts. Earl tells us that
artists have always depicted birch bark canoes with the distinctive
white pattern of the bark on the outside. This is a myth, as they are
actually made with the white, outer bark of the tree, on the inside of
the canoe. While the task is arduous the work proceeds step by step
with the help of other members of the Ojibwe Nation. The excellent
camerawork allows us to see in great detail the ingenious process.
While it is not as easy as going down to the local sporting goods shop
and picking up an aluminum model, there is the sense of satisfaction
knowing that the materials and the process are integrated with the
natural environment and provide a spiritual link to the past. This
program is suitable for all ages and will be very useful for anyone
interested in canoe making, in the preserving of a Native American
craft, in teaching Native American Studies, and anthropology.
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