How to Build a Canoe Model

Native canoes were made from bark and other natural materials.

Native Americans living near rivers and streams often used canoes to travel from village to village, delivering news and tradable items. Since they didn't have access to materials like metal and fiberglass, Native Americans made their canoes from strips of sealed bark. Birch bark, especially, offers a strong, flexible medium for creating a watertight vessel. Create your own canoe models to see how the Natives did it. You can also use these tiny canoes to add a finishing touch to a model Native village.

Things You'll Need

• 4-inch by 7-inch birch bark rectangle
• Sharp scissors
• Natural twine
• Embroidery needle

Instructions

1. Lay a fresh rectangle of birch bark in front of you so the longer sides are the left and right sides of the rectangle.

2. Cut a curve into each side of the rectangle, starting about ½ inch from the end and widening the curve to about ½ inch at its deepest. The bark should look like a rough bow tie shape.

3. Fold the bow tie shape in half vertically, matching up the edges of the curves. Crease the bark gently and unfold it.

4. Snip into the top and bottom edges of the bark at a 45-degree angle, making slits on either side of the center crease. Start the slits about ½ inch from the center crease and cut them to about 1 inch long.

5. Fold the bow tie in half again, gently pulling out and down on the area between the snips at the top and bottom of the rectangle. The bark should resemble a rough oval shape with pointed ends.

6. Stitch the pointed ends of the canoe together. Fold the flaps at either end up against the stitched points of the canoe and stitch them down, as well. The flaps prevent water from seeping into the stitching at either end of the canoe.

References

• Native Tech: Making a Miniature Birchbark Canoe Model
• Bell Labs: Building a Scale-Model Prospector Canoe