Historically, when birch-bark canoes were built for the fur trade at the North West Company's outpost at Fort William in Thunder Bay, Ont., it took only a week to build a 24-footer. These were much larger vessels than the 12-foot craft that Mark and Adam Shoalts intend to make.
But because they don't have the experience of these master craftsmen, they're hoping to make theirs in about 18 days.... If everything goes according to plan.
Join us for part three of their quest to build a birch-bark ...
Ottawa is home to the largest urban Inuit population in Canada. Giving community members a place to come together, The Ottawa Inuit Children's Centre shares and celebrates their heritage while fostering cultural values in a new generation.
Watch as children learn how to clean an arctic char, throat sing and carve soapstone sculptures.
Historically, when birch-bark canoes were built for the fur trade at the North West Company's outpost at Fort William in Thunder Bay, Ont., it took only a week to build a 24-footer. These were much larger vessels than the 12-foot craft that I intend to make. But because I don't have the experience of these master craftsmen, I’m hoping to make mine in about 18 days if everything goes according to plan.
You can’t just go to the local hardware store and order up some huge piece of birch-bark, so ...
Posted by Adam Shoalts
on Thursday, March 17, 2011
Photo: gnuckx/flickr
Fierce storms on the Great Lakes that claimed hundreds of lives, tsunamis, earthquakes, a landslide that wiped out an entire town, devastating forest fires, huge floods and paralyzing blizzards and ice storms; Canada has seen its share of deadly natural disasters.
As it turns out, however, the two deadliest natural disasters in Canadian history were also rarities here: a volcanic eruption and a massive hurricane.
Both these tragedies claimed several thousand lives, and curiously, took place ...
Many Haida artists work to not only recapture old traditions but to take those traditions in new directions. Recently, a talented raven's tail weaver named Lisa Hageman spent two years completing a chief's robe using a technique that hadn't been tried in more than 150 years. We spoke to her about Haida art and what it took to complete this stunning project.
CG: Are you trying to recapture lost traditions in your work?
LH: My personal and professional focus is to learn as much as I can about ...
