| Birch Bark Canoe |
In August of 2007, David Moses Bridges of
Bethel, Maine built a Wabanaki style birch bark canoe at the Cobscook
Community Center in Whiting, Washington County.
The birch bark has been collected by David, a Passamaquoddy, throughout the winter months. After drying for a half year, the bark is formed around a cedar frame and lashed with split spruce roots onto the frame. The frame is connected by wooden pegs, all hand cut.
With a volunteer crew of 5-10 people, the whole process takes at least two weeks.
The birch bark has been collected by David, a Passamaquoddy, throughout the winter months. After drying for a half year, the bark is formed around a cedar frame and lashed with split spruce roots onto the frame. The frame is connected by wooden pegs, all hand cut.
With a volunteer crew of 5-10 people, the whole process takes at least two weeks.
About David Moses Bridges
David is one of the few people
left that still has the knowledge to build a birch bark canoe.
David's grandfathers passed on these boat building traditions and
skills to him when he was a young boy. In
addition, David learned from experience and many other sources how
difficult it is to build canoes of such magnificence. He builds
one canoe in a year and often donates them to charitable or educational
causes. One of David's canoes is featured in the
Downeast Heritage Museum in Calais, ME.
Sample canoe