A Talk With Chris

I asked Chris Marshall, the instructor behind the scenes of the project, the following questions:
What were your thoughts on the canoe project when it first started?
What are your thoughts on the canoe project now?
Do you expect this project to continue next semester?
--> If yes, do you think it will be continue by Courtney, Riley, & Nick or by new students in the class?

His response was:
I thought we could find out more about the tribe who made the canoe, based on the style. Turns out it wasn’t that precise, but the team is pretty sure it’s Algonquin.
I also hoped we could get it out there in the public eye. Turns out it may be more valuable than we think and needs protection from light, so we’ll need to think up a better way to show it.
Let’s pick it up again next spring and learn more, maybe get an expert in to recommend restoration. We’ll see who wants to do the project then.

Making A Canoe (last one)

Sorry it took so long; I had a very bussy weekend.
Here is the seventh and final clip!

Making A Canoe (only one more to go)

Here is the sixth clip. Hope you like it.

Making a Canoe Cont. (again)

Here's the fifth clip!!!

Hanging Out

Today, I talked to Melora Norman the director of Quimby Library. She told me that the canoe can’t be hung above the circulation desk. She wants it hung closer to the opposite end of the library. Her only other concern is that the college maintenance department look at it and guarantee her that it will not fall on anyone’s head.

Making A Canoe Cont. (again)

Here is the fourth clip. Enjoy!

Research

Nick researched pine pitch / pine tar. This is a sticky material produced by the high temperature carbonization of pine wood in anoxic conditions. It has a long history as a wood preservative, as a wood sealant for maritime use, in roofing construction and maintenance, in soaps such as Packer’s Pine Tar Soap and in the treatment of skin diseases, such as psoriasis and eczema. Pine pitch was used in the construction of this project’s birch bark canoe.

Riley researched wood preservation. He also researched types of wood used by Native Americans and the best time to harvest different wood species. This will help to identify the wood used in the construction of the canoe.

Courtney researched the different building styles for constructing a canoe. She searched based on differences between Native American tribes and on the different uses for the canoe. Using her findings as a resource, she assumes that the canoe was made by the Algonquin tribe, and that it was used for recreational purposes, such as travel, fishing, etc.

Making A Canoe Cont.

Here's the third clip.

Making A Canoe Cont.

Here is the second clip.

Making A Canoe

Thanks to youtube, you can learn to make your very own birch bark canoe with Ray Mears. There are about seven clips and I will post one each day, starting today.
Enjoy.

=-$

Ken Weeks charges $500 a day to go to a location and look at a canoe. This is out of the budget of the North American Indians class. So once again, the project has no professional guidance.
Sorry for the not-so-happy news update.

Close and Personal: Riley

GET TO KNOW THE STUDENTS WORKING ON THE CANOE ! ! !
I compiled a list of questions to ask them. They answered the questions, and now I am posting the answers for your viewing pleasure.

QUESTION: What did you think of the canoe when you first saw it? When did you first see it?
ANSWER: I thought "This is going to take a lot of work," and "we will need someone that knows what they are doing." I first saw it my freshmen year, when I had to go down to the archives for some old articles.
Q: What would you like to do with or about the canoe once it's done?
A: I would like to display it in the library so that others can see what we have done to it from start to finish.
Q: What did you do for spring break? How was it?
A: During spring break I worked on some personal woodworking projects for my goddaughter and did a lot of woodturning, as well as took care of my home while my parents were on v-cay.
Q: If you could have only one super power what would it be and why?
A: I would want the ability to morph into anything; therefore I would be the ultimate loop hole. I could turn into a person with a different ability, and it would just work out, I guess.

Close and Personal: Nick

GET TO KNOW THE STUDENTS WORKING ON THE CANOE ! ! !
I compiled a list of questions to ask them. They answered the questions, and now I am posting the answers for your viewing pleasure.

QUESTION: What did you think of the canoe when you first saw it? When did you first see it?
ANSWER: I first saw it two months ago and was amazed at its potential.
Q: What would you like to do with or about the canoe once it's done?
A: To just have a cleaned and preserved item that people can observe and learn from.
Q: What did you do for spring break? How was it?
A: I got my dog neutered. It was terrible.
Q: If you could have only one super power what would it be and why?
A: The ability to control time, but like in a video game, so I could save this version as DEFAULT, that way if I screw anything up I can always just reload this "saved game." There’s a lot I could go back and fix! I wouldn’t go forward though; the future scares the bejezus out of me.

Further Developments

Our heroes have made contact with the passionate-email sender. The sender turned out to be another canoe expert, Ken Weeks. Ken Weeks of Blue Hill, ME builds and restores birch bark canoes. A time and date for a meeting is still being worked out, but hopefully it will be soon. For more on Ken Weeks, check out one of his pieces featured at the Davistown Museum http://www.davistownmuseum.org/MAG/MAGbioWeeks.html.

Other than that, right now a very crucial aspect of this project is going on; research. Courtney, Nick, and Riley have been working really hard lately to find more information for this project. More about their findings to come...

Close and Personal: Courtney

GET TO KNOW THE STUDENTS WORKING ON THE CANOE ! ! !
I compiled a list of questions to ask them. They answered the questions, and now I am posting the answers for your viewing pleasure.

QUESTION: What did you think of the canoe when you first saw it? When did you first see it?
ANSWER: I first saw it on the second week of the semester. I thought it was beautiful, but really dirty. There is a lot of damage, but it will be fun to work on this project.
Q: What would you like to do with or about the canoe once it's done?
A: I would like to see the canoe hung in the library. We have put a lot of work into the canoe, and it'll be nice to be recognized. This canoe has a lot of history, although we don't know what it is, yet.
Q: What did you do for spring break? How was it?
A: I spent time with my second family and worked on getting a job. It was fun, my family is great, and we had a lot of time to share.
Q: If you could have only one super power what would it be and why?
A: I'd be a psychic. I like to figure people, to know what they are thinking. This power could take over the world muhahaha :)

We're Back

Sorry for the long gap between posts. Unity College just had its spring break.

The canoe is no longer on display of course, but is now back in a disclosed location were it can be worked on; sadly though the canoe can not be worked on for a while. Courtney, Riley, and Nick recently received an email from a-friend-of-a-friend of Chris's. This email sounded rather passionate but basically said to stop what they were doing, because they were going to ruin the canoe. Chris is setting up a meeting time where Courtney, Riley, and Nick can talk to this passionate-email sender.

On Display

Courtney, Riley, and Nick moved the canoe to the art gallery in first floor South Coop at Unity College. It will be there on display until March 2, 2010.

South Coop is located on Unity College campus left of the cafeteria and book store. The first floor houses the art gallery and art class rooms. The second floor is home to conference style class rooms as well as faculty offices.

On a light note, the canoe had to be transported in and out of the building through the art gallery window.

To Start . . .

Last night Courtney, Riley, and Nick wiped down the canoe with wet rags. It was rather dirty, so they had to do it more than once.

Courtney, Riley, and Nick were able to get in touch with Henri Vaillancourt, who will give them advice about where to go with the project. He may also provide structural information. To learn more about him go to http://www.birchbarkcanoe.net/.

A proposal will eventually need to be given to Unity College to hang the canoe in the library. Courtney, Riley, and Nick also hope that Unity College will donate money to cover materials and labor.

Questions That Still Need Answered:
Who used this birch bark canoe?
How was it constructed?

Welcome

The purpose of this blog is so you, the viewer, can keep track of the progress of this canoe restoration process.

This way you know what we know. We can keep you up to date with all the latest Unity canoe related news.