Wiigwaasi Jiimaan 2010

7/28/2019 Wiigwaasi Jiimaan 2010

1/93

Birch Bark Canoe Building andAnishinaabemowinImmersion onNagaajiwanaangReservation 2010

Wiigwaasi-J iimaan


2/93


3/93

Petrasavodsk J iimaan

In 2007 a team of community members built a

jiimaan in Petrasavodsk, Russia sponsored by Fonddu Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa for asister city cultural boat building symposium


4/93

Washington D.C. J iimaan

A collaboration between the Fond du Lac CulturalCenter and Museum and the National Museum of theAmerican Indian in 2008 built a Jiimaan on-site in

Washington D.C.


5/93

2010 J iimaan TeamStaff, Artists, Resource Expertsn Jeff Savagen Marvin Defoen Dave Niib Aubidn Kyra Paitrickn Lisa Shabaiashn Marilyn Carpentern

Phil Savagen Rick Defoen Bill Howesn Charlie Nahgahnab

Participantsn Darryl Portern Joe Rodaksn Vern Zacher Jr.n Tim Divern Jamie Petiten Chris Ojibwayn Jerald Jenkinsn Brett Dufaultn

Joe Fairbanksn Supporting family members and volunteers


6/93

Anishinaabemowin

Primary project goals were Implement a language preservation project that will contribute to

the fluency, knowledge, and comfort using the Ojibwelanguage

Create community members skilled in our cultural arts who then

can be the future teachers and mentors


7/93

Gidinawemaaganinaanig(all our relatives)

Intergenerationalteaching andparticipation providesthe foundation forour culture and was acornerstone of ourproject


8/93

J iimaan basics

Based upon an illustration by Tara Prindle copyright 2000


9/93

Biindakoojigewin

At appropriate times during the Wiigwaasi-Jiimaan project, asemaa (tobacco) was offeredfollowing the Anishinaabe tradition


10/93

Obishagaakobidoon Wiigob(he peels the inner bark of the

basswood)

n Wiigobiin (innerbasswood bark) ispeeled to makeAnishinaabeuniversal twine


11/93

Odoozhitoonaawaa J iimaanike-Wigamig

(they build the canoe making house)

n Maananoons(ironwood/hophornbeam) poles aregathered and used forthe jiimaanike-

wigwaming (canoemaking house)


12/93

n Traditionally, wiigobiin(inner basswood bark) isused to tie themaananoons(ironwood/hop horn

beam) poles together

Odoozhitoonaawaa J iimaanike-Wigamig

(they build the canoe making house)


13/93

Onaadinaawaa wadabiin(they go get spruce root)

n Gawaandag (blackspruce) grows in wet

areasn Wadabiin (spruce roots)

are gathered for sewingand lashing

n Ideal roots are the widthof a finger


14/93

Wadabiig(spruce roots)

n Ogiishkizhaanaawaan(they cut and trim theroots)

n Ondewan (the roots areboiling) to loosen the

bark to make it easier topeel from the woodycenter that is used forlashing the canoe


15/93

Wadabiin(spruce roots)

n Daashkibijigewin (rootsplitting) to makelashing for all sewingneeds in theconstruction of thecanoe

n Split roots should haveone flat side

n Gashkoonowinan(lashing) keeping moistuntil use


16/93

Aabadizo wenizhishid giizhik(the fine cedar is used)

n Cutting and splitting thegizhik (cedar) forwaaginaag (canoe ribs),bimikwaanag (gunnels),and apisidaaganag(slats)

Good canoe cedar is difficult to find,70-150 year old cedar with no knots is

ideal


17/93

n Splitting the giizhik(cedar)

n Following the grainmaximizes the flexibility

of the wood for shaping itinto the various canoeparts

Daashkigaige(he splits)


18/93

n Rough shaping thewaaginaag (canoe ribs)with a mookojigan

(draw knife)

Mookodaaso(she whittles)


19/93

Nabagisagoonsikewin(board-making)

n Odoozhiaawaanapisidaaganag (theymake cedar sheathing)

for canoe lining


20/93

Anishinaabemowin Immersion

n Language transmitsculture. Interwoven inthe language are thelore, legends, values

and the culturalpractices of theOjibwe.

n Canoe building skills

and the language gohand in hand inmaintaining eachother.


21/93

Maniwiigwaase(s/he gathers birch bark)

n Finding canoe bark treestakes a lot of time andeffort

n

50-70 year old trees areneeded

n The bark must be bethick, flexible and have

small horizontal linesn When trees are peeled in

the proper season it doesnot kill the tree


22/93

Bishagaakobijigewag(they are peeling birch bark)

n Good canoe trees areincreasingly difficult to find dueto many factors in modern times


23/93

Gwayako-didibinan!(Roll it up correctly!)

n One good canoebirch bark treepeeled in the

proper seasoncan yieldenough bark fora complete

canoe.n Bark is rolled

up inside out


24/93

J iimaanike-Wigamig(the canoe building site)

n A level spot isprepared of sand forlaying out the canoe

n The level spot keepsthe bark on thebottom of the

jiimaan (canoe) evenwhile forming thecanoe


25/93

Anishinaabemowin

n Anishinaabemowinlanguage CDs weredeveloped and playedduring travel and for

participant use

n Language was alsoavailable in visual and

audio formats aroundthe jiimaanike-wigwaming (canoemaking house)


26/93

n Migoosan (awls) areused to hold sheets ofbark together in

preparation for sewingn Wadabiin (spruce roots)

are used for sewing thesheets of bark.

n The sewn together birchbark sheet will form theouter shell of the canoe.

Wiigwaasi-Gashkigwaasowin(birchbark sewing)


27/93

Onaakosijigewin(forming frame making)

The onaakosijigan(forming frame) iscut from boards or

a modern plywoodpattern


28/93

Onaakosijigan gaye asiniig(frame and rocks)

n After the bark issewn together insideout, the

onaakosijigan(forming frame) ispositioned andweighed down with

asiniig (rocks) tokeep the barkstationary


29/93

Maananoons (ironwood)

n Forming stakes aremade of maananoons(ironwood/hop

hornbeam) to hold andshape the bark aroundthe pattern into itscanoe shape

O k iji


30/93

Onaakosijigewag(they use frame and stakes to bend the

canoe into the proper shape)n Gezhaagamideg

(warm water) keeps

the bark flexible whileshaping the bark uparound the pattern

n Aatwaakosiziganag

(framing stakes) bendand hold the bark intoits canoe shape

i ik ik


31/93

n Drawing bimikwaanag(gunnels) on the log

n

Cutting bimikwaanag(gunnels) out of log

Bimikwaanike(he forms gunnels)


32/93

n Cut and shapedbimikwaanag (gunnels )ready for lashing onto

the bark to form thecanoe shape

Bimikwaanike(he forms gunnels)


33/93

n Bimikwaanag (gunnels)are the longest pieces ofgiizhik (cedar) in the

canoe

n Once the flattened sideis formed with the drawknife, then the log issplit

Bimikwaanike(s/he forms gunnels)


34/93

Bimikwaanag(gunnels)

Bimikwaanag (gunnels) ends are split, steamheated, and bent to make the curved ends of thecanoe


35/93


n Bimikwaanag(gunnels) are shapedto fit the onaakosijigan

(forming frame) andprepared to be sewn tothe birch bark to formthe top edges of thecanoe


36/93


n Positioning thebimikwaanag (gunnels)to be sewn in place

n Framing stakes are tiedand secured in place tostabilize the canoe formwhile the

gashkoonowinan(lashings) are being done


37/93

Gashkoonowin(lashing)

n Bimikwaanag (gunnels)are being lashed withwadabiin (spruce roots)

n

The bark is trimmed forshaping canoe end


38/93


n The bark is placed between the two gunnels and lashedsecurely with wadabiin (spruce roots)


39/93


Four generations of canoe lashers.

Joanne Olson helps granddaughter Kyra

and great-grand niece lash gunnels


40/93

n After bimikwaanag (gunnels) are lashed to the bark,then the final sewing is done on the side panels and

end pieces


41/93

Apikaanikaanan(temporary thwarts)

n Apikaanikaanan(temporary thwarts)are crafted to be fittedfor keeping the canoein its shape whilesheathing and ribs are

prepared for fitting


42/93

Baashkinedeigan(steamer)

n Bashkinedeigan(steamer) is used toheat and moisten the

cedar for bendingthewaagaadoowaatig(end pieces) and

waaginaag (ribs)

d i


43/93

Waagaadoowaatigoog(end pieces)

n Steamed and bentgiizhik (cedar) fortifiesand strengthens the

canoe ends

d i


44/93


n Waagaadoowaatigoog(end pieces) aresteamed, bent,

formed, and wrappedtight

n They are tied, then

dried into their finalshape

W d i


45/93


n Sewing, trimming, andforming canoe ends

n Forming bimikwaaanag(gunnels) to canoe ends

n Preparing bark forwaagaadoowaatigoog

(end pieces)

W d ti


46/93


n The dried and shapedwaagaadoowaatigoog(end pieces) are

inserted into canoe

n Holding the canoeshape is a

apikaanikaan(temporary thwart)

Nii /I hk


47/93

Niigaan/Ishkweyaang(front/back)

n Waagaadoowaatigooggaye bimikwaanag (endpieces and gunnels)

come together to formtop ends of both theniigaan (front) and theishkweyaang (back) of

the canoe.

Wii i J ii ik i


48/93

Wiigwaasi-J iimaanikewin(birch bark canoe making)

n Afterwaagaadoowaatigoog(end pieces) and

bimikwaanag(gunnels) are lashedtogether, theonaakosijigan(forming frame) istaken out

O h hki


49/93

Ogaashgaashkinaanaawaa(they scrape the bark)

n After the canoe form isremoved, the inside ofcanoe is scraped smoothand prepared for theapikaanag (permanentthwarts).

O hki d


50/93

Ogashkigwaadaan(s/he sews it)

n The waagaadoowaatig (end piece) is being fitted andsewn

O hki d


51/93

Ogashkigwaadaan(he sews it)

n The waagaadoowaatig(end piece) is sewn intothe canoe with a

different stitch than thestitching used to sewbark together

A ik ik


52/93

Apikanike(S/he makes permanent thwarts)

Each apikan(thwart)must be individuallyhandcrafted andmeasured to fit.

A ik ik


53/93


n Different types of canoes(ricing canoe, travelingcanoe) have different

thwart placements.

A ik ik


54/93


n Apakanag(thwarts) are fitted into slots thathave been made in the inner bimikwaanag(gunnels)

n They are then drilled, and lashed to gunnels

Gashkoono


55/93

Gashkoono(S/he lashes)

n Permanent placingand fitting ofapikwaan (thwart).

n Lashing of theapikwaan (thwart).

Niigaan/Ishkweyaang


56/93

Niigaan/Ishkweyaang(front/back)

n After the waagaadoowaatigoog gaye bimikwaanan

(end pieces and gunnels) are lashed to the canoe, they aretied and secured together to form the niigan/ishkweyaang

(front/back) of the canoe

O hiitaa in


57/93

Ozhiitaawin(getting ready for)

n Temporary sheathing isplaced in bottom ofcanoe for rib shaping

n Apikwaanag (thwarts)are tied to side stakes to

keep canoe the height itwill be when finishedwhile fitting the ribs


58/93

Waaginaa (canoe rib)

n Rib wood has beensoaked for severaldays to prepare it for

steaming and fittinginto canoe

n Ribs are sized

according toplacement in canoe


59/93


n Ribs are numbered and then steamed


60/93


n During waaginaa (canoerib) fitting process,gezhaagamideg (hot

water) is poured on barkto keep it flexible andprevent tearing

n Ribs are fitted andplaced while steaminghot


61/93


n It takes two hands and two feet to fit ribs

n They are secured in place until they dry


62/93


Progression of rib placement from center to ends


63/93


n Boards are inserted and secured to hold waaginaag (ribs)in their places while drying to their desired shape


64/93


n For final drying, the rough shaped and semi-dried ribs are carved, bundled, and numbered forproper placement in the canoe


65/93



66/93

Mookodaaso (s/he carves)

n While the waaginaag (ribs) are drying, the apisidaaganag(sheathing) are shaped and tapered to create the canoelining

n Edges are tapered to overlap slightly


67/93

Anishinaabemowin


68/93

Gashkigwaaso (s/he sews)

n Waagaadoowaatigoog (canoe ends) final sewingattaches gunnels to end pieces

Apisidaaganike


69/93

Apisidaaganike(He makes sheathing)

n Tapering and measuringapisidaaganag(sheathing)

n Apisidaaganag(sheathing) is the innerlining held in place by

the ribs

Apisidaaganag


70/93

Apisidaaganag(cedar floor sheathing)

n Placing and fitting thesheathing

n Each sheathing piece isindividually carved as itis placed

Apisidaaganag


71/93

Apisidaaganag(cedar floor sheathing)

n Layering theapisidaaganag(sheathing) starts at bothends of the canoe andgoes towards the middle

n These four sections are

held temporarily inplace with several ribs

Waagaadoowaatig


72/93

Waagaadoowaatig(prow inner end piece)

n With the endsheathing in place, thewaagaadoowaatig

(prow inner endpiece) is fitted tostrengthen the ends


73/93

n Waaginaag (ribs) arefitted in between thegunnels

n

Waaginaag (ribs)holds sheathing inplace and stretches thebark into its

permanent shape

Waaginaag (canoe ribs)

Waaginaag


74/93

Waaginaag(canoe ribs)

n During the critical stageof the ribs stretching thecanoe into the propershape, gezhaagamideg(hot water) is poured onthe bark to keep itflexible to prevent

tearing and otherdamage


75/93

Waaginaag (canoe ribs)

n Waaginaag (ribs) arechecked for proper and

secure fitting by placingweight on them

Agowanewaatigoog


76/93

Agowanewaatigoog(gunnel caps)

n Agowanewaatigoog

(gunnel caps) are addedto the tops of both sidesto protect the lashingwhen paddling thecanoe

Bikwakokaanike


77/93

Bikwakokaanike(S/he makes wooden pegs)

n Bikwakokaanan

(cedar pegs) are carvedfor attaching the

agowanewaatig

(gunnel cap) to thecanoe

Agowanewaatig(gunnel cap)


78/93

Agowanewaatig (gunnel cap)Bikwakokaanan (wooden pegs)

n Holes are made inagowanewaatig

(gunnel cap) for

wooden pegs

n Gunnels caps are held inplace withbikwakokaanan(wooden cedar pegs)

Wiiwakwaanens


79/93

Wiiwakwaanens(little cap)

n Wiiwakwaanens

(little cap)

is added to the canoeends to make the canoefeel confident while itswims

Naajibigiwe


80/93

Naajibigiwe(s/he harvests spruce pitch)

n A lot of time is spentsearching for driedbigiw (spruce pitch)because few trees seep

pitch in sufficientamounts

n Bigiw is gathered by

scraping it into acontainer from where ithas dried on the tree

Bigiwikewag


81/93

n Bigiw (pitch) is meltedand strained to removepieces of bark and otherimpurities

Bigiwikewag(they make pitch)

Bigiwikewag


82/93

Bigiwikewag(they make pitch)

n Charcoal is crushed and sifted

n Mix charcoal with pitch

n Mix in waawaashkeshi bimide (deer fat) for flexibility

Bi i ( it h)


83/93

Bigiw (pitch)

n A small test piece ofbirch bark is dipped inthe processed bigiw(pitch) and cooled in

cold water

n The pitched bark is bentto test for flexibility,

pitch should not crackwhen slightly bent

J ii


84/93

J iimaan

n The word Jiimaan comesfrom the Ojibwe rootword ojiim to kiss.

n

J iimaan are tested forholes and imperfectionsby putting your lips to thebark inhaling or exhaling

to search for small holesin the bark needing to bepitched

Bi i ( it h)


85/93

Bigiw (pitch)

n The processed bigiw(pitch) is heated andthe seams, holes, or

any naturallyoccurringimperfections in thebark are pitched to

make themwaterproof

Abwiikewag


86/93

Abwiikewag(they make a paddle)

n Different types of woods can be used to make abwiin(paddles)

n Cedar makes a light abwi (paddle), but birch makes astrong one

A b ji hi (t l )


87/93

Aabajichiganan (tools)n Bagoneigan drill

n Mookomaanens little/carving knife

n Minjiminigan clamp

n Mookojigan drawknife

n Waagikomaan curved knife

n Biiminakwaan rope

n Mookobaajigan plane

n Waagaakwadoons hatchet

n Waagaakwad axe

n Giishkiboojigan saw

n Chi-emikwaan big spoon

n Oshkiinzhig eye

n Mookomaan knife

n Minjikaawan(an) glove(s)

n Migoos- awl

Me adishi ejig( isitors)


88/93

Mewadishiwejig (visitors)

Hundreds of intergenerational

community members,visitors, and volunteers

participated in and observedWiigwaasi-Jiimaanikewin

in 2010

Partners


89/93

Partners

n Administration to NativeAmericans (ANA)

n Fond du Lac ReservationBusiness Committee

n University of MinnesotaExtension Service

n Fond du Lac Bureau ofIndian Affairs Tribal

Forestry

n Fond du Lac NaturalResources ManagementDivision

Ikidowinan


90/93

Ikidowinan(words)

Aabadizo wenizhishid giizhik-the finecedar is used Aatwaakosijigan(ag)-framing stake(s) Abwiikewag-they make a paddle Abwi(in)-paddle(s) Agowanewaatig(oog)-gunnel cap(s) Anishinaabe- original man also

known as the Ojibwe, or Chippewanation

Anishinaabemowin- language of theAnishinaabe

Apikanikaan(an)-temporary thwart(s) Apikan(ag)-thwart(s) Apisidaagan(ag)-slat(s) or sheathing Apisidaaganike-s/he makes sheathing Asemaa- tobacco Asin(iig)-rock(s) Baashkinedeigan-steamer Bigiw-spruce pitch Bigiwikewag-they make pitch

Biindakoojigewin-offering of tobacco Bikwakokaan(an)-wooden or cedar

peg(s) Bikwakokaanike-s/he makes wooden

pegs Bimikwaan(ag)-gunnel(s)

Bimikwaanike-s/he forms gunnels Bishagaakobijigewag-they are peeling

birch bark Daashkibijigewin-root splitting Daashkigaige-s/he splits

Gashkigwaaso-s/he sews Gashkoonowin(an)-lashing Gawaandag-black spruce Gezhaagamideg-warm water Gidinawemaaganinaanig-all our

relatives

Ikidowinan (words)


91/93

Ikidowinan (words)n Giizhik-cedar

n Gwayako-didibinan!-Roll it upcorrectly!n Ishkweyaang-back of the canoen J iimaan-canoen J iimaanike-wigiwaaming-canoe

making housen Maananoons-ironwood/hop

hornbeam treen Maniwiigwaase-s/he gathers birch

barkn Mewadishiwejig-visitorsn Migoos(an)-awl(s)n Miigwech-thank youn Mookodaaso-s/he carves or

whittlesn Mookojigan-draw knife

n Naajibigiwe-s/he harvests sprucepitch

n Nabagisagoonsikewin-board-making

n Nagaajiwanaang- also known asFond du Lac Reservation

Niigaan-front of the canoe Obishagaakobidoon Wiigob-s/he

peels the inner bark of thebasswood

Odoozhiaawaan apisidaaganag-they make cedar sheathings

Odoozhitoonaawaa J iimaanike-Wigamig-they build the canoe

making housen Ogiishkizhaanaawaan-they cut

and trim the roots Ojiim-to kiss Onaadinaanaawaan wadabiin -

they go get spruce root

Ikidowinan (words)


92/93

Ikidowinan (words)

Onaakosijigan-forming frame Onaakosijigewag-they use frame andstakes to bend the canoe into theproper shape

Onaakosijigewin-frame making Ondewan-the roots are boilingn Ozhiitaawin-getting ready for

n Waagaadoowaatig(oog)-end piece(s)or inner prow piece

Waaginaa(g)-canoe rib(s) Waawaashkeshi bimide-deer fat Wiigob(iin)-inner basswood bark

string(s) Wiigwaasi-Gashkigwaasowin-birch

bark sewing Wiigwaasi-J iimaan- birch bark canoe Wiiwakwaanens-little cap

Miigwech


93/93

Miigwech

n Fond du Lac Band of LakeSuperior Chippewa

n Fond du Lac Cultural Centerand Museum

n Administration for NativeAmericans (ANA)

n Fond du Lac departmentsand staff

n Participants, artists, resourceexperts, communitymembers, and volunteers

Documents

Wiigwaasi Jiimaan 2010