Thursday, December 13, 2012

Master Carvers of One People Canoe Society visit Wrangell



Master Carvers Brian and Doug Chilton visited Wrangell this past weekend, conducted a workshop and left by ferry.  The next time the Chilton's visit Wrangell will most likely be for the Re-dedication, and it will look something like this.


photo Michael Penn / Juneau Empire

That's Doug arriving in style at Celebration 2012 in Juneau.  Brian and Doug are of the One People Canoe Society, a non-profit organization striving to encourage cultural education through amazing journeys, and the duo with return next May with a small fleet of traditional canoes and dozens of visitors for the re-opening of Shakes Island.

The Chilton's workshop was set up by SEARHC natural foods specialist Ken Hoyt and Shane Gillen, with the end result being 30 Yellow Cedar canoe paddles to be used in the May 2013 Re-dedication of the Shakes Island Tribal House.  The Wrangell High School shop class played host to the event on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 8th and 9th.  Hoyt was pleased with the end result.

"We had a pretty good turnout, with  20 or so of us there," said Hoyt.  "We ended up with some awesome paddles.  Brian and Doug were great, we couldn't have got 'em done without them."

Doug told KSTK's Greg Knight, "This is for the community of Wrangell ... We put together a workshop with Ken and Shane, and the idea was to bring a group together and promoting unity while making the paddles."

Hoyt will pair again with Gillen after the holidays.  The two plan to create a cedar strip canoe, and have already secured the workspace and some guidance for the project.  "A local has offered us his shop and we can finish one  in a month or so," said Hoyt.  "We also have some help from Tlingit elder Willie Eyon, who has experience with putting together this kind of canoe."

 The One People Canoe Society will remain in Wrangell for the entirety of the Re-dedication.  Being the traditional group of travelers they are, the dozens who arrive via canoe will not require lodging.  Instead, the Society will camp out as they did on their way to Celebration, and just like they would have done at the 1940 Dedication.  All other travelers will require lodging, and hotels for the first week of May 2013 have been booked for months.  WCA needs help finding beds for everyone who wants to join our community in the ceremony.  If you can help with the Re-dedication in any way, please contact WCA. 

1 comment:

  1. What a rich and inspiring article showing the people pulling together as community; I hold my hands up high in respect and appreciation for each and every person helping to bring the culture and community alive and for the canoe families prepare to make there journey of unity, celebration and honoring of the ancestors. Ipswa Beaver Creek Cree Yellowhead Nation Canada

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