William Ross Solutions

Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation, Snimokobi First Nation, Plenty Canada and friends have been working together to build two birch bark canoes. This two month long workshop was led by birch bark artisans Chuck and Janet Commanda.  With everyone’s hard work, both canoes have been completed.

As outlined in a previous blog posting, the process began with harvesting the required materials. The building process began with joining three strips of birch bark into one large sheet using spruce root to stitch the seams.  Three strips of bark are not typically required but it had been difficult finding large, healthy white birch trees.  The large sheet of stitched birch bark was then placed on a table and bent around a form.  The bark was sewn to the cedar gunwale using spruce root.  Moving closer to the ends of the canoe, the gunwale had to be bent upwards. The gunwale was not stitched to the bark at the ends of the canoe allowing for the next important step.

The shape of the canoe ends were created using cedar. The wood was soaked in hot water to make it pliable and then bent into the correct shape. These forms were then sewn into the ends of the canoe and excess bark was trimmed.

The yoke and thwarts were crafted out of ash wood and held in place by spruce root.

Cedar, planed into thin strips, was used for sheeting. These strips were placed along the inside of the canoe.

The ribs of the canoe were also made with cedar. The strips were steamed, bent and placed in the canoe on an angle. After being left overnight to dry into shape, the ribs were carefully tapped into place as the bark stretched. We were then able to sew together the ends of the canoe.

With the ends completed and the sheeting and ribs in place, a cedar strip was used to cap off the top of the canoe. This strip was fastened to the gunwales using pins made out of ironwood.

The final step was to apply a mixture of animal fat and spruce gum to seal all seams and small holes with gum to make the canoe watertight.

On August 28, 2012, the two birch bark canoes were complete. Many individuals gathered for a pipe ceremony on the bank of the Mississippi River to honor the canoes. With a deep sense of pride and achievement, we set the two birch bark canoes afloat. Each canoe now has a home with the Shabotobaadjiwan and Snimikobi First Nations. It has been a pleasure to be involved in this once in a life time experience.

Nikki Moreau
Invasive Species Community Outreach Liaison

On Thursday, August 16th, Plenty Canada hosted two remarkable workshops. As part of the Our Traditions Our Future initiative, the workshops provided a valuable opportunity for others to learn more about indigenous traditions and living in harmony with the land. Through participation, individuals gained increased awareness about issues which have significant negative impact on earth’s biodiversity and the importance of preservation, promotion and sharing of indigenous knowledge.  With an interest in facilitating the development of good relations, both indigenous and non-indigenous peoples were welcome to take part in the workshops.

At the first workshop, presented by Chuck and Janet Commanda, participants learned how to make birch bark baskets. Each participant was provided with a folded form which had been precut from a sheet of birch bark.  The first step involved using an awl to make holes up and down the two sides and along the bottom of the basket.  Spruce root was then used to sew the seams of the basket together. The top edge of the bark was leveled off and more holes were created along this edge.  Next a stick was attached along the top edge using spruce root. With the completion of this step, there was noticeable shape and stability to the basket.

Making a lid was next. A thin stick, narrow strip of birch bark and a circular-shaped piece of birch bark were required.  The narrow strip was cut to fit inside the lip of the basket and attached to the circular piece of birch bark using spruce root. More holes were created in the lid and the second stick was fastened using spruce root. After a final knot – the impressive baskets were complete!

During the second workshop, Jeff Beaver taught participants how to craft rice sticks. Wild rice is a traditional indigenous food which is harvested in the fall. The rice plant, which grows in shallow water, is drawn over the edge of the canoe and the grains are struck loose from the stalk using two rice sticks. These valued tools are made from cedar. Starting with rough-shaped sticks, the wood is whittled with knives to the desired shape and weight.  The sticks were finished with a sanding which removed any remaining rough edges.

I greatly appreciate having had the opportunity to take part in both of the workshops hosted by Plenty Canada. In addition to learning more about indigenous culture, it was a privilege to share the experience with such knowledgeable, welcoming people. I truly hope I have the chance to participate in future Our Traditions Our Future workshops.

Nikki Moreau
Invasive Species Community Outreach Liaison

For nearly two months, Karol Ramirez and Rita Wakelin have been working with Plenty Canada. We are participants with the organization Canada World Youth, an inter-cultural exchange program that gives students an opportunity to volunteer and learn abroad in a Canadian and international phase. Promoting sustainability, both globally and locally, is a key value for CWY. Therefore, Plenty Canada was a perfect match for our work placement.

We will take you through our journey with Plenty Canada, giving both a Canadian and Honduran perspective of our experiences.

Rita (Victoria, BC, age: 20)

My first day with Plenty Canada was July 12. Unfortunately, my counterpart Karol was not even in Canada yet. While the Canadians waited for the Honduran half of our group, I spent my first week with Plenty Canada. I received a tour of the area and learned about the kinds of activies I would be doing here.

One of the first jobs I was given was to water baby Spruce Trees. With the kind of heat we were getting this summer, they were going to need it.

I was also able to help out with trail clearing. It didn't take us long to realize we would need some more powerful equipment! The pathway had become unrecognizable by fallen trees and untamed branches. I felt a little sad when we started sweeping away the debris. I liked the untouched beauty of the forest floor. It was peaceful, even if it was also a tripping hazard.

There is much to learn from Plenty Canada.Not only from the organization itself, but also the people who work here. I quickly discovered how little I actually new about environmental issues in developing countries, as well as in Canada. I spent many hour just listening, wide-eyed and smiling contently as different member taled with me about their past adventures with Plenty.

Karol (Santa Rosa, Honduras, age: 18)

My first day in Canada was July 23, which would leave me wondering what kinds of work and activities this organization performs.

My first activity was to choose envelopes with letters to potential donors who help make the work.

Over the last two weeks, Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation, Snimokobi First Nation, Plenty Canada and friends have been gathering materials to construct a birch bark canoe. The White Birch bark canoe connects us to our ancestors, our culture, to the sacred elements, the land, water, air and the sun. We are reminded of the generosity of our Mother Earth and our responsibility to her.

Led by Chuck Commanda, grandson of the late Elder William Commanda, and Janet Lecuyer, we set off to collect and prepare the necessary resources. Knowing that Elder Commanda said only one out of every 200-300 trees had the required characteristics, we knew the process would be long and arduous.

The first material we looked for was cedar (Kijik). We searched for trees without knots, branches, bends or twists for a minimum of eight feet (2.5 m). Finally locating a suitable tree, tobacco was placed at its base. The sacred indigenous medicine was respectfully offered to carry our prayers to The Creator in appreciation for the valued materials we were collecting. The harvested cedar was hand split into planks to be used for the ribs and gunnels.

Birch bark (Wigwas) was next on our list. For the bark to be useful in making a canoe, it needed to be 3-4 mm thick, have small eyes and stretch for a length of at least 10 feet (3 m). Our lengthy search ended with finding a beautiful birch tree. After offering tobacco, a straight line was etched down the trunk of the tree using an axe and hammer. The bark was then carefully peeled back on both sides of the cut line. Care was taken to ensure only the outer bark was removed leaving the inner bark unharmed. The long sheets/panels of bark were rolled white side facing in, against the natural curve, for storage until building begins.



The roots of spruce trees (Wadab) also needed to be harvested. After removal from the soil, the process of hand splitting into correct thickness began. These long roots will be used to bind the birch bark to the wooden structure of the canoe. A total of 300 feet (~90 m) is needed to construct the canoe.



Spruce gum is the final resource we will need to collect. The sticky tree gum will be combined with animal fat to maintain its suppleness. The mixture will then be used to waterproof seams and seal holes.

Once all of the necessary materials have been harvested and prepared, a start date for building the canoe will be determined. The traditional process will take 12 to 15 days to complete. Watch for further posts to share this interesting experience.

Nikki Moreau
Invasive Species Community Outreach Liaison