Birch Bark Canoe Video DVD

How to Make Your Own Birch Bark Canoe video DVD - 2 hours

New from Silvertip Productions - www.silvertip.net

The How to Make Your Own Birch Canoe video DVD is a fascinating step by step documentary production showing wilderness skills expert Jim Miller making an Objiwa style birch bark canoe. Jim gathers the raw materials from the woods of Northern Michigan and creates a canoe worthy of being exhibited, or used to paddle the wilderness in the style of those who passed long ago.

Jim Miller of Willow Winds is a well-known wilderness skills expert from Northern Michigan. Jim teaches workshops, builds exhibits for historical centers, creates movie sets, and authors publications that focus on Native American and pioneer era ways of life.

Jim Miller is pictured in one of his early Objiwa style birch bark canoes. Jim uses his canoes for exploring northern waterways, but his work is often put on display at visitor centers. Note that the shell of the canoe is brown, not white. The white side of the birch bark goes on the inside of the canoe, despite paintings that often show it on the outside.

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History and Native American Technology Native Americans demonstrated amazing skills and technology through the development of birch bark canoes. Birch bark canoes were used for thousands of years throughout many parts of North America where birch trees were found. Native Americans also used birch bark for quivers, baskets, artwork, and other items. Additionally, birch bark was a source of medicine.
Bending Birch Bark Around a Frame Jim and Verne arrange the pieces of birch bark on a building bed. A weighted frame is placed on top of the bark. Using hot water to make the bark more flexible, Jim and Verne begin bending the bark into shape. The birch bark is held in place with a series of stakes and stays tied together with basswood bark.
Staking the Birch Bark Canoe Jim Miller inserts stakes in holes in the building frame. Once the stakes are firmly in place Jim holds the bark in place by tying stays to the stakes with basswood bark. Jim also builds birch bark canoes on the ground, but the work is easier if it is done on an elevated building bed.
Making the Prowpieces Jim splits out cedar trees to make many parts of a birch bark canoe. Here, Jim is bending a stempiece into place and tying it. The stempiece and manboard together make up a prowpiece. A prowpiece is inserted into each end of the canoe. Most of the prowpiece will be hidden from view when the canoe is finished. Jim makes three at a time so that he can keep one to show people when they ask how the canoe was built.
Sewing Birch Bark Jim Miller gathers spruce root and splits it for sewing or stitching the birch bark canoe. Many different stitches are used, and Jim shows all of these as the canoe is built. In this image you can see the top of the manboard and the gunwales.
Carving & Installing Cedar Ribs Starting with a cedar log, Jim Miller demonstrates how to split out the rib stock, carve it to shape, and fit it together. The result is a light but durable birch bark canoe capable of carrying people and their gear as they explore America's wilderness.
Sealing the Seams The "How to Make Your Own Birch Bark Canoe" video DVD shows you how to make your own pitch and seal the seams on your canoe just like Native Americans did for thousands of years. After viewing this video DVD you will gain a deep appreciation for past, and an understanding of how Native Americans used the trees and plants around them to make the things they needed.
Learn to Make Canoe Paddles A sample of cedar canoe paddles carved by Jim Miller using a crooked knife. Learn to make your own paddles using a hatchet and a crooked knife. Once you see how fast Jim does it, you will be inspired to start making your own.
Making a Scale Model Birch Bark Canoe The video DVD has footage of Jim Miller building a scale model birch bark canoe using the same techniques required to make a full-size canoe. This is an excellent learning process for beginners, and an enjoyable hobby for those who do not have the time or materials to make a larger canoe. Building your own birch bark canoe is an excellent project for families, school shop classes, scout troops, or individual craftsmen.
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