Biography
I work in the following areas of art: paddles, painting, knife blade and knife making, leather work, beading and 25 years’ experience in birch bark canoe building and birch bark basket making. I worked and was trained by Algonquin elder Stanlie Sarazin.
Many of themes of my art production is traditional Algonquin teachings and teachings such as the Seven Grandfather teaching. In recent years my work has grown with a greater sense of urgency, not to put off projects anymore. I want to build a forty foot birch bark canoe, I have it all planned in my mind. This coming summer I want to take off this entire summer to build a 6 to 14 foot canoe. I am interested in passing on this ancient Algonquin knowledge to the next generation.
I would like to teach how to gather the materials, which if often overlooked but just as important is making a canoe. We need to know when and where to spot and gather spruce root, birch bark, etc. Many of these materials are becoming harder to harvest.
