Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Where did Ojibwe get canoe birchbark?

There are moments in winter that are just spectacular

When we came to Thunder Bay in 1979 one of the first things I learned was that Nipigon, 100 km to the northeast, had exceptionally large white (or paper) birch trees and that native people came from all around to get it when they were making birchbark canoes.

Other than those word-of-mouth stories, I have never been able to confirm this. But if it is true, then did people from far-off places like Red Lake -- 300 miles away by road but much farther by canoe routes -- travel all that way just for birchbark? Did they trade for it up closer to Red Lake. Did they go to Nipigon and then make the canoes on the spot? 

Does anybody know?

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Where did Ojibwe get canoe birchbark?

There are moments in winter that are just spectacular When we came to Thunder Bay in 1979 one of the first things I learned was that Nipigon...

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