contact

Significance of the Canoe Project

In 2008 and in partnership with the City of Coquitlam Kwikwetlem First Nation was approved for a federal 2009 Cultural Capitals of Canada Grant. The main objectives were to build a dugout sixty foot cedar war canoe and teach the skills of canoe building.. The giant cedar logs for the canoe are in the Coquitlam Lake giant cedar forests. Metro Vancouver Watershed Operations is the authority that cares for the forest. After dicussions with Bob Cavil, Watershed Division Manager and Ron Van Ooord, Superintendent Watershe Operations, they become a partner of the project agree to provide the logs, the technical expertise to locate downed logs, the removal and the transportation to Kwikwetlem First Nation lands. Their staff scouted the forest areas looking for the sixty foot giant cedar trees that would be suitable for the canoe. Doug Campbell of the Chillwack Forest District was contacted to initiate the process of obtaining the Free Use Permit to remove the logs from the Coquitlam Lake Forest. Kwikwetlem had to fill out forms to become a client of the Ministry of Forest and the Free Use Permit was granted. Kwikwetlem recruited Sandra Bonner, Bear Images Productions, Chilliwack, B.C. to vidoe all phases of the canoe building project

Chief Percy Cunningham, Councillor George Chaffee, the researchers Nancy Joe and Glen Joe, , the Master Canoe Builder Chief Mark Point, Skowkale First Nation, Chilliwack, B.C., Metro Vancouver staff make several trips to view the logs available. Finally the suitable logs are chosen and the removal begins. . All parties including the Bear Images Production crew met at the gate to make the trip up to remove the first log. The transportation of the log on the truck and all entourage was like a parade through Coquitlam City to Kwikwetlem First Nation.

It has been more than a hundred years since an event of this magnitude has happened. The Coquitlam Lake forest areas are traditional lands of the Kwikwetlem people, they fished, hunted, picked berries and medicinal plants, there are spiritual sites used for cultural ceremonies. For the protection of the pristine forest the entrances are gated and locked. Travel into the forest and lake areas ceased.

The vision is of the Kwikwetlem First Nation canoes that rested on the banks of the Coquitlam River for 8500 plus years. Canoes were the traditional transportation of the Coast Salish peoples. They were canoe of eight feet to sixty feet long dug out of the local giant cedar trees. The Kwikwetlem people were among the many settlements along the might Fraser River

Building of the Canoe

The cedar logs sit beside the band office buildings. The work begins in the fall of 2008. The Master Canoe Builder, Chief Mark Point and his son Keith Point travel from their homes, Skowkale First Nation, Chilliwack, B.C. on weekends to work on the canoe and teach members. The members have hands on training in building a single man canoe. All members make their way over to watch or participate, they enjoy coversavions with Mark and his son Keith. You will find the work taking place on weekends.

The work is an impressive feat. The giant sixty foot cedar log is split in half and the shaping of the canoe begins. Winter begins to set in, the canoes are covered and will sit for the winter to dry out. With the first inklings of spring the canoes are uncovered Mark and Keith again return to Kwikwetlem. Canoe carving classes are held in the evening to teach the theory of the art of canoe building and attendees will learn to carve their own paddles from the yellow cedar.

Monday April 13, 2009 the hallowing out the inside of the canoe begins and within a couple of weekends the log will take shape in to the form of the canoe. It is truly an exciting event to witness.

"The Canoe Building Schelule - Sundays and Wednesdays"

A crew working for the Kwikwetlem First Nation secures two logs to a truck. The cedar trees will be used to make war canoes.

Craig Hodge/the tri-city newS

The Tri-City News

Carving history from two big logs

By Gary McKenna - The Tri-City News

Published: September 30, 2008 6:00 PM

Kwikwetlem salvage pair of cedar trees from watershed, will videotape their carving

"Two out of three ain't bad" was how George Chaffee described Kwikwetlem First Nation's attempts at removing downed trees from the Coquitlam watershed last week. The Kwikwetlem councillor was on hand as crews attempted to load three cedars, blown down in a storm several years ago, onto a truck. The band intends to use the lumber to build several ceremonial war canoes. But the project hit a snag Friday. After successfully pulling out two of the trees with excavation equipment, the third would not budge no matter how hard crews tried. "One of the excavators almost flipped over," said Chaffee. The hard work it took to remove the fallen trees makes Chaffee appreciate his ancestors even more, he said. The last time someone from Kwikwetlem First Nation pulled trees from the area to build a war canoe was more than 100 years ago, long before excavators and trucks were used. "It is a historical event for us," said Chaffee. "It has been a very long time since a war canoe has been built down here."But the band has not been deterred by its tree troubles. This weekend, it plans on returning to the area and removing two more fallen trees.

The canoes will be between 50 and 60 feet long and must be built of cedar, said Chaffee. The process is being documented every step of the way. Kwikwetlem will film the cedar removal process and the carving in order to pass the information down to future generations, said Chaffee. "This is an excellent opportunity to learn," he added. "I could sit here all day and watch." The public will also get the opportunity to see the process in action. Carving will take place on weekends at the Kwikwetlem band office on Colony Road and those interested are welcome to come down and watch, Chaffee said.

gmckenna@tricitynews.com

Sign Guest Book View Guest Book

Kwikwetlem First Nation

2-65 Colony Farm Road, Coquitlam, B.C.

604-540-0680 FAX 604-525-0772

Email: kwikwetlem@shaw.ca

Create your own website
WebStudio Website Builder