Haida Carver Teaches More Than Canoe-Building
5 Nov
“It’s been waiting to become a canoe a long time now.”
So said Haida canoe carver Saaduuts of a log he intends to shape into a dugout canoe, according to THIS Seattle Post-Intelligencer story by Mike Lewis.
Saaduuts, born Robert Peele but who has gone by his tribal name for some 20 years, seeks to teach more than ancient boatbuilding in his carving classes at the Seattle Center for Wooden Boats. Along with teaching how to turn a 600-year-old red cedar into a 37-foot dugout canoe come lessons about culture and respect for nature.
“This is all about cultural connections,” Saaduuts told Lewis. “This is about honoring the Earth Mother. We first talk about the blessing of the log. We show honor to the log.”
The Chine Blog has photos of Haida dugout canoes HERE, including one of Saaduuts’.
