The document discusses a canoeing event being held on June 23, 2012 as part of Heidelberg University Alumni Weekend. It provides a history of canoe use by indigenous peoples in North America, describing how canoes allowed for expanded travel and trade. Canoes evolved from a means of transportation to a symbol and tool of commercial industries like fur trading, and later became primarily used for recreation. The event will explore canoeing on local waterways and the traditions and legacy of canoe use.

1. Heidelberg
University
Alumni Weekend: June 22 - 24, 2012
Classes Without Quizzes
“Migrating from a way of life to a source of recreation and
fitness -- one of the finest gifts offered by the First Nation:
The Canoe

2. Classes Without Quizzes: Alumni Weekend
June 23, 2012
Explore one of the oldest and most
efficient forms of transportation in North
America and now a leading recreational
sport and pastime -- Canoeing local
streams, rivers & lakes and more
challenging wilderness destinations and a
lifetime sport for all ages...

3. Classes Without Quizzes: Alumni Weekend
June 23, 2012
“Canoes have been found in waters all over the
world, but only in upper North America have
these indigenous crafts been used by late
European immigrants to create a nation...” The Canoe,
A living Tradition
“There is hardly a river or lake in North
America that was not first seen from the
gunwale of a canoe.” The Canoe, A living Tradition

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June 23, 2012
Earliest canoes were used by Polynesians about
2,500 BCE
Vikings used wooden canoes before they built
larger ships

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June 23, 2012
Pre-canoe North American First Peoples traveled
only as far as their feet would carry them
Development and use of the canoe...
Freed them from their immediate surroundings
Opened new vistas
Dramatically expanded their hunting and gathering areas
Improved their lives
Set free of the restrictions of rocks, trees and swamps

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June 23, 2012
Initial, useful purposes of the canoe
Exploration
Trade
War
Hunting

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The First N. American Canoes
Pacific Dugouts of the Northwest
Bark Canoes of the Woodland Indians
Skin Canoes of the Arctic lands

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June 23, 2012
Bark Canoes became the preferred and
dominant water vessel material
Many different bark types used
Elm
Chestnut
Hickory
Beech
Cottonwood
Eucalyptus
Purple Heart
Birch

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June 23, 2012
Birch Bark had Multiple, Practical Uses before
the Canoe
Used for gathering sap and berries
Served as a waterproof cooking pots to boil meats (red-hot rocks
added to the water)

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June 23, 2012
Birch Bark -- the Perfect Material for Canoes
Light
Smooth
Resilient
Waterproof
Plentiful - huge stands grew to 40-50 ft., sometimes 80 and a girth
that you could not wrap your arms around
Beautiful
White outer skin provides color contrast and can be painted
Tough, pliant tan under bark can be painted or scored
Capable of sophisticated shaping into elegant and subtle forms

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June 23, 2012
Other Uses for the Birch Bark & Wood
Used for toboggans, snowshoes and utensils
Bark was the chief covering of wigwams in the winter
Provided rough, temporary raincoats
Torch tinder
Made animal calls
Quivers
Medicines for coughs and blood purification

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June 23, 2012
Birch Bark Canoe Building
Done by eye
No written records
No template
Some use of crude measuring sticks

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June 23, 2012
Traditional Birch Bark Canoe
Just over 14 feet
Weighed less than 40 pounds
Life-Span
5 years
20-30 years with little use
Repair
Walk into the woods
Piece of birch bark
Spruce tree roots and tree gum

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June 23, 2012
The Canoe Plays a Definitive Role in the Shaping
of North American Society
Brought together Native Americans & European colonists
Promoted exploration
Changed the economy forever with the onset of the fur trade
The Canoe Evolved from a Symbol
Mobility
Spirituality
Craftsmanship
Canoe Became an Instrument for Commercial
Trade, Recreation & Sport

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June 23, 2012
“The Greatest Praise for the North American
Indian Canoe is that Early Europeans with Their
Knowledge, Sophistication & Tools Contributed
Nothing that Improved the Design or
Functionality.” The Canoe

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June 23, 2012
Early Contact with First Nations and their
Canoes was documented in 1534 when Jacques
Cartier was met by 2 fleets of 40-50 canoes
Cartier’s Second Voyage was Further Up the St.
Lawrence River (“River to Canada”)
Told by First Nations that no one ever reach the headwaters
Later explorers did find the headwaters and reached the Pacific
Ocean by canoe

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Fur Trading Empires were Created
North West Companies
Hudson’s Bay Company

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Coureurs de Bois - New France (“Runners of the
Woods”) and Voyageurs - After the British Takeover
Life together (First Nations and Voyageurs) changed both
Established a culture in which N. American society would be built
European survival rested with the First Nations
Native herbal medicine was advanced far beyond what they knew
Europeans enjoyed the Indian inventions of the toboggan, dogsled, moccasin and
snowshoe
Native skills were invaluable: canoeing, fish/spear/net, find/stalk/kill game, how to
dress, tap/boil sap for syrup, make/maintain fire, build a warm/dry shelter

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June 23, 2012
The Artwork of Frances Anne Hopkins Captured
The Fur Trade and Life of the Voyageur
Arrived in 1858 from England, married and stayed for 12 years
Returned to England with her husband and continued to paint until
her death in 1918

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The “Grand Portage”
8.5 mile trail connecting lake Superior to what was Ft. Charlotte
Follows the lower Pigeon River
Portage opened trade in fur-rich forests
Links chains of lakes and rivers to the Pacific Ocean

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Voyageur Canoe Types
Canots du Nord carried up to ton and a half 24 -
28 ft., and 4-6 paddlers
Canots du Maitre traveled with loads up to 5
tons, 7-16 paddlers and up to 40 ft.
Voyageur Canoe“Brigades” (3-6 canoes) traveled
on the Great Lakes Routes

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Canoe Use in Transition and End of the Bark Era
Settlement of the West in mid-1800s brought wagon roads, ships and steam trains
and eventually took the place of the canoe in commerce
Canoes were getting bigger and bigger, loads were heavier, quality birch bark was
harder to find and by the late 1800s canvas started to replace bark
The original and primary canoe uses of subsistence fishing, hunting, trapping and
gathering were greatly diminished by the urbanization of society
Recreation and sport have overtaken primary uses
Resort living and cottaging became a lifestyle for the wealthy with canoeing as a
major part of summer leisure living

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June 23, 2012
The Emergence of the Canoe as Recreation and
Sport
Indians raced canoes for fun & Europeans took to canoe sports post the
turning of wilderness into “civilized” countryside
Canoe regattas began before 1850
Canoe meets popular by the early 1900s
Many N. American towns on water had a canoe/boat club with storage at
water level and dancing or other social activity on the 2nd floor
Canoeing became a medal sport in the 1936 Olympics

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June 23, 2012
Growth of Canoeing and Paddle Sports Around
the World
People have more leisure time
Trend toward spending time in healthy pursuits
More disposable income to spend on equipment
Olympics in the 1990s promoted interest in racing and adventure
paddling
Between 40-50 countries compete in Olympic canoe and paddling
events
America and Canada remain the spiritual and statistical centers for
paddling
26 million North Americans participate in paddle sports

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Canoeing Fun Facts
June 23, 2012 Canada National Canoe Day
Longest trip ever taken: Don Stark and 2 sons paddles 12, 181 miles
from Winnipeg to the mouth of the Amazon
Largest raft of canoes and kayaks ever: 1,902 on September 24, 2011
at Inlet, NY (Adirondacks)
Canoe societies in US, Canada, British Isles, Europe, Korea & Japan

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