In The News
July 11, 2007
Media Release – for Immediate Release
Sainte-Marie’s “Paddlefest”
Celebrates the Canoe
In a recent CBC audience poll “The Canoe” was
named one of the “Top 7 Wonders of Canada.” Sainte-Marie’s
“Paddlefest” celebrates this
legacy in a 9-day summer event from July 21 to July 29.
Central to this year’s event will be a fascinating
demonstration of canoe and authentic wigwam building, showing
the use of birch bark as a traditional building material.
Master canoe builder Del Taylor, Group Leader at Sainte-Marie
and Coordinator of Paddlefest, travelled to northern Ontario
with Sainte-Marie Group Leader Peter Vyvyan in the spring
to harvest birch bark in anticipation of the exhibition. “The
properties of birch bark as both a strong and natural material
are truly amazing”, said Taylor. “I know visitors
will be fascinated by both the canoe-making demonstration
and authentic wigwam construction”, he noted. Additional
canoe-making exhibits will also be set up by the Ojibway Canoe
Company and Sturgeon River Canoes, and Sainte-Marie’s
interpretive staff plan demonstrations of canoe repair using
historic pitch and materials. Artisan David Walsh will demonstrate
the art of paddle making in the Sainte-Marie foyer.
Paddlefest will have lots of fun activities for kids, encouraging
“hands-on” participation and learning. Little
folks will have a great time painting their own “mini-paddle”,
visiting the on-site historical encampment, watching “The
Flying Canoe” daily puppet show, and will delight in
seeing a special mini-play entitled “Paddle To The Sea”.
Site activities will include a selection of historical crafts,
quill pen and candle making, shaping clay okies and weaving
cornhusk dolls, and waterway demonstrations with an historic
canoe. Various entertainment on selected days will include
guest performers playing traditional folk songs as well as
native drumming, all themed to canoe heritage.
A special highlight on the first weekend of Paddlefest will
be daily presentations by David Nelson, a specialist canoe
day-tripper who will share his adventures in an audio-visual
show and personal presentation on July 21 and 22. In addition,
canoe excursions will run at nearby Wye Marsh throughout the
9 days of Paddlefest.
A great family summer event, “Paddlefest”
runs daily from July 21 to July 29 at Sainte-Marie
among the Hurons. For information call (705)
526-7838.
Special Note: The story behind the building of a birch bark
canoe is a fascinating one…
In 2007 Sainte-Marie staff will construct a birch bark canoe
and authentic wigwam during the 9-day “Paddlefest”
event. The bark was harvested north of North Bay, Ontario.
Contrary to popular belief, harvesting birch bark does not
kill the tree. Unlike other tree species, the birch’s
cambium layer (the nutrient transport system) is attached
to the interior of the tree rather than the bark, so when
the bark is removed, its food supply remains and the tree
survives.
Del Taylor, a Sainte-Marie historic program Group Leader
and Coordinator of this year’s “Paddlefest”
event, is a master canoe builder. Del is Ojibwa and originally
from Curve Lake, Ontario. His mother was a master basket weaver
and his dad was a carpenter, so his ability to craft canoes
comes naturally. In addition to his work with Sainte-Marie
among the Hurons, the new Canadian War Museum in Ottawa recently
commissioned him to build replica wooden armour that the Iroquois
wore four centuries ago.
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons is operated by Huronia Historical
Parks,
and is an Attraction of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism.
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Media Contact:
Bill Brodeur
Co-ordinator,
Marketing and Media Relations
Huronia Historical Parks
(705) 528-7692 Email: Bill.Brodeur@ontario.ca
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