Welcome to Kokomis Tchiman
 |
 |
 |
|
Harvesting the birch bark can
only be done a certain time of year.
Photo by Tiho Velkovski
|
The trees must be carefully selected.
|
A length of nearly 20 feet
of bark is peeled away.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Photo by Tiho Velkovski
|
Photo by Tiho Velkovski
|
Photo by Tiho Velkovski
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Marcel inspects the bark.
Photo by Tiho Velkovski
|
Harvesting root from black
and white spruce.
Photo by Tiho Velkovski
|
Harvesting roots - The trees are not harmed.
Only what the tree can provide
is harvested.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Voyageur, Christian Pilon
assists with the harvesting of
roots.
|
Marcel reminds us of patience.Larger roots must be split down their length.
|
Grandmother Giizhik |
 |
 |
 |
|
Marcel demonstrates the art of splitting a smaller piece of
cedar for the construction of
Christian's demonstration canoe.
|
With axe and hammer, Marcel carefully splits the cedar... |
...and soon it is ready to be transported. |
 |
 |
 |
|
The frame of the 25 foot Voyageur Canoe begins to take shape
Oct 28
|
Sheets of birchbark are soaked in water to become supple and then flattened. Special pieces are selected to become the bottom of the canoe. |
November 12 - Specially prepared spruce roots are used to secure the side panels of the canoe to the bottom sections. |
 |
 |
 |
| November 16 - Marcel continues stitching the next set of birchbark sections to the base of the canoe. |
November 23 - Grandmother Canoe takes shape. Side panels of birchbark align with the canoe's gunwales. |
Dec. 7 - Marcel is fastening the side panels of birchbark to the gunwales using prepared spruce root. |
 |
 |
 |
| Dec. 7 |
Dec. 7 - Marcel demonstrates the skill of splitting cedar. |
Dec. 8 - Both sides of the centre panels of birchbark are now secured to the gunwales |
 |
 |
 |
|
Dec. 14
Pine Ridge S.S. pays a visit.
|
Dec. 14
Additional sections of birchbark have been set in place.
|
Dec. 14 - View from the stern (back end of the canoe)
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Dec 16
Marcel has made final preparations before the two week break.
|
Jan. 4
Sections of cedar to be used for the ends of the canoe are partially split and soaked in warm water to make them pliable.
|
Jan. 4
The sides of the canoe are now in place.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Jan. 6
A view of the canoe's stern.
Photo by Art Henry
|
Jan. 6
Photo by Art Henry
|
Jan. 13
Another look at the stern of the canoe.
Photo by Art Henry
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Jan.19
The stern of the canoe is nearly completed.
|
Jan. 19
A look at the bow of the canoe.
|
Jan. 19
Another look at the bow.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Jan. 21
Marcel Labelle, Christian Pilon take a moment to pose with Kokomis Tchiman
Photo by Christian Pilon
|
Jan. 26
Joanne Labelle helps with stitching the sides of the canoe to the gunwale with spruce root.
|
Feb. 3
Grade 3 students from Gordon B Attersley visit Marcel and Kokomis Tchiman
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Feb. 8
The stitching for the cedar gunwales and tamarack thwarts are nearly completed.
|
Feb. 8
Sides of the canoe must now be stitched in place.
|
Feb. 8
A close look at the bow. The stitching is now complete.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Feb 15
Nearly 0.5 km of spruce root is required to stitch the canoe.
|
Feb 15
Marcel is stitching the remaining pieces of birchbark located along the bottom of the canoe.
|
Feb 15
Cedar ribs are being shaped for the canoe. There will be 56 ribs in total.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Feb 15
With sheathing and ribs in place, the bow takes on a full, shapely look.
|
Feb 15
Preparing cedar ribs by soaking them in hot water before bending into shape.
|
Feb 23
Cedar ribs are shaped and sized for each section of the canoe.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Feb 23
Bonhomme is fitted for the bow to provide additional strength.
|
Feb 23
Sheathing and ribs are positioned at the bow and stern. Marcel works towards the middle of the canoe.
|
Feb 23
Ribs in the bow are carefully measured and then hammered into place.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
March 2
photo by E. Nish
|
March 2
photo by E. Nish
|
March 2
photo by E. Nish
|
 |
 |
 |
|
March 29
Kokomis Tchiman is nearly complete and ready to leave the "canoe room" at GL Roberts CVI
|
March 29
The canoe is loaded on Marcel's trailer so that she can be transported to a place of storage until the weather warms up and the seams can be properly gummed.
|
May 7
Essential ingredients for proper gum include spruce sap, ashes, and bear fat.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
May 7
Marcel applies the gum along the stitching.
|
May 7
Grandson learns how to gum the canoe under Marcel's guidance.
|
May 7
"Kissing" the surface of the canoe is required to ensure there are no leaks.
|
 |
 |
 |
| (Left - Right) Christian, Lisa, Lance and Marcel stand with Kokomis Tchiman before the launch on the shores of Lake Ontario |
Kokomis Tchiman is carefully lifted into the lake. |
Drumming and singing accompanied the launch. Within moments, the canoe was distant from the shore. |
Thank you to Art Henry from the Oshawa and Durham Region Métis Council and Marcel Labelle for allowing us to share this video link on our website.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_InnNOBpcg
Nov 10, 2010 16:00 ET
Government of Canada Invests in the Oshawa and Durham Metis Council
OSHAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 10, 2010) - On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Colin Carrie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Member of Parliament (Oshawa), today announced funding to the Oshawa and Durham Métis Council for three projects-the Métis Dance Project, the Métis Fiddle Project, and the Voyageur Canoe Project-that will provide Aboriginal young people with opportunities to learn about Métis culture.
Under the Métis Dance Project, Aboriginal youth will participate in developing and designing a jigging course. This includes learning basic steps, moves, and routines to various jigging dances. In the Métis Fiddle Project, young people will take part in developing, designing, and implementing a fiddling program and will learn about the history of fiddling and to how to play the instrument. Finally, the Voyageur Canoe Project will get youth involved in building a smaller version of a voyageur canoe that was used to transport trade goods and furs mainly between Montréal and Fort William.
"Our Government recognizes the importance of providing Aboriginal young people with projects that connect them with their culture and language," said Minister Moore. "By funding youth-led activities, we are helping these young people gain the life skills they need to achieve their goals, which will lead to stronger communities."
"The Oshawa and Durham Métis Council plays an important role in our community and for Aboriginal youth," said Mr. Carrie. "They provide youth with a positive environment where they can partake in culturally relevant activities. This helps them build self-confidence and self-esteem and motivates them to make positive life choices."
"We want to thank Canadian Heritage for providing funding for our three projects and, of course, Colin Carrie for being so supportive of the proposals," said Robert Pilon, President of the Oshawa and Durham Region Métis Council. "Oshawa has a relatively large number of Aboriginal residents, so having these heritage projects is particularly meaningful to us and helps bring the community together, as well as bring a sense pride to our youth. The Durham District School Board and their trustees have embraced these projects wholeheartedly and worked tirelessly to ensure the youth in the community will benefit from participating in the canoe building, Métis dance lessons, and Métis-style fiddling lessons."
The Government of Canada has provided funding of $137,015 through the Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth initiative (formerly known as the Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centre Initiative) of the Department of Canadian Heritage's Aboriginal Peoples' Program. This initiative provides Aboriginal young people aged 10 to 24, living in urban settings across Canada, with programming that incorporates Aboriginal values, cultures, and traditional practices in projects and activities designed to improve their social, economic, and personal prospects and to strengthen their cultural identity.
(This news release is available on the Internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Newsroom.)
 |
 |
 |
|
(l to r) President, Rob Pilon, Musician, J.J. Lavallee, Elder Joseph Paquette, Vice-President, Art Henry
(photo courtesy of Art Henry)
|
Jennifer Henry provided welcoming remarks and introductions.
(photo courtesy of Art Henry)
|
DDSB Chair, Larry Jacula addresses
the audience.
(photo courtesy of Art Henry)
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Member of Parliament, Dr. Colin Carrie announces funding.
(photo courtesy of Art Henry)
|
Marcel Labelle provides concluding remarks.
(photo courtesy of Art Henry)
|
Olivine Bousquet Dancers jig to the fiddling of JJ Lavallee.
(photo courtesy of Art Henry)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Grant Announcement (photos by Emmanuel Nish, Teacher, GL Roberts CVI) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Link to article in the Oshawa Express - http://www.oshawaexpress.ca/viewposting.php?view=394
Link to article for the Metroland Durham Region Media Group - http://newsdurhamregion.com/opinion/article/166197
|
