ceasar's bark canoe online

[robin wood]

http://beta.nfb.ca/film/Cesar_et_son_Canot_d_ecorce/

This is the best, greatest, most wonderfully inspiring woody film I have ever seen. Filmed in 1971 an old Cree goes through all the processes of making a birch bark canoe. I only have it on VHS and it seems not to be available on DVD but here it is for free online. 57 minutes.

[paul atkin]

thanks for that gona watch it again while the wifes watching strictly come dancing

[woodness sake]

At first I thought, "What? 57 minutes?" But, I cues it up and although I had to pause it several times, I had to watch it til the end. Incredible. Thanks.

[kwadams]

Thanks, Robin. The build sequence was fascinating, but for those of us who love the water, the paddling on flat water at the end was equally special.

Kevin

[paul atkin]

the best sundays viewing ive had in ages cheers rob

[robin wood]

Glad you all enjoyed it. Amazing what you can do with a few very simple (and frankly not particularly good) tools and a lot of skill.

[SeanHellman]

WOW
I want to live in America, for the wood that is. The way he splits down the cedar for lining the inside to the canoe was gob smacking, I so wish that I could get my hands on wood of that quality in this country. If I had cedar like that, making fan carved birds with a 4 foot wing span would be childs play. Maybe I am confusing skill and the quality of the wood, but I have not always been able to get the quality of wood I would like to have and had to struggle on regardless.

[robin wood]

WOW
I want to live in America, for the wood that is. The way he splits down the cedar for lining the inside to the canoe was gob smacking, I so wish that I could get my hands on wood of that quality in this country. If I had cedar like that, making fan carved birds with a 4 foot wing span would be childs play. Maybe I am confusing skill and the quality of the wood, but I have not always been able to get the quality of wood I would like to have and had to struggle on regardless.

it is certainly quality wood but also very good technique. If you go on one of Owen Jones swill basket making courses you learn to split boiled coppiced oak down that thin.

[DavidFisher]

Finally had time to watch the whole thing. That was simply beautiful. I felt like I was watching something sacred. Thanks for posting that, Robin.

Makes me want to practice more with my crooked knife that usually bows out to the drawknife.