Cobscook Community Learning Center

CCLC News

07/23/2007 Entry: "Wabanaki Birch Bark Canoe Building Project at CCLC, August 13 - 24"

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David Moses Bridges, Passamaquoddy artist and canoe maker, will host a Community Canoe Building Project from August 13 through August 24 at the Cobscook Community Learning Center (CCLC) in Trescott. All people from all communities are welcome to participate.
Throughout the two week session, David will offer a step-by-step demonstration with lots of hands-on opportunities for participants on building a traditional Wabanaki 16’ birch bark canoe. Community members are welcome to come for any part of the two week session to watch, ask questions, and participate in a variety of ways. David will demonstrate how to split a log and carve the canoe frame from a tree, how to gather and prepare spruce roots for lashings, how to use the various tools, and how to put together the canoe from hand gathered and shaped materials.

In 2006, David was awarded the Maine Arts Commission’s Tradition Arts Fellowship, the first award of this kind given by the Commission. From 1997-1999 David worked as an assistant instructor at the Wooden Boat School in Brooklin, ME. Since that time, David has been working to bring back the art of canoe building to the native nations by providing programs in native communities that are free of charge and open to all. Included among the traditional canoes David has produced are an 18’ 2” Porpoise Hunting Canoe (2003), an 18’ 6” St. John River canoe (2004) and an 18’ 2” Passamaquoddy Ocean Canoe (2005).
The Canoe Building Project is made possible by a Community Spirit grant from the First People’s Fund of South Dakota and by the support of the CCLC. Activity will take place each day, including Saturday and Sunday, from 8 am – 5 pm at the CCLC Commons building. Those who would like to come for a full day session are encouraged to bring a lunch, as well as stories and an enthusiastic spirit. Organizers are planning a tentative launch of the canoe on August 23rd or 24th. Those interested in watching the launch are encouraged to call the CCLC at 733-2233 closer to the date for details. The CCLC is located at 10 Commissary Point Road, 1.5 miles east of Route 1 off of Route 189. For additional information please Click Here or call the CCLC for details.

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