Abnaki Type Birch Bark Canoes
From the Lake Memphramagog area of Quebec
Henri Vaillancourt 

14 foot Abnaki style birchbark canoe

 

 

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Lines of old Abnaki birch bark canoe from Lake Memphramagog measured by Edwin Tappan Adney in 1890



 

A Brief Historical Background
	This Abnaki birch bark canoe is based on a specimen measured and documented in 1890 by Edwin Tappan Adney [ Adney researched birchbark canoes from the late 1800's until his death in1950 ] from the Lake Memphramagog area of Quebec ; it appears on page 92 of the book '' The Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America '' by Adney and Chappelle . Originally in the collection of the Museum of Natural History in New  York , this canoe is now missing and presumed  destroyed .
Cree Indians in a birchbark ''crooked canoe'' ; Great Whale River c. 1900 ; photo A.A.Chesterfield , courtesy Queen's University Archives
What this canoe represents in terms of tribal type is somewhat unclear as no other canoe like it has been found of Abnaki manufacture. The typical Abnaki birchbark canoe of the late 1800's was chararterized by a flare or wall sided hull with a rather peaked bow and stern , In contrast, the cross-section of the Memphramagog canoe is tumblehome sided like those of their close relatives, the Malecite and Penobscot [ earlier forms of Abnaki canoes are presumed to have been like those of the Malecite and Penobscot].The rounded bow profile is not unlike many of the low -ended  Malecite birchbark canoes of the late 1800's ; however, combined with the strong rocker of the bottom, the bow profile is identical to that seen on  Montagnais canoes from the north shore of the St. Lawrence River . Rockered bottom canoes are particularly well suited to rough water , both white water and the large waves of windy lakes . The ocean going canoes of the Passamaquoddy feature a similar strong rocker to handle  rough coastal waters . Whether  this canoe represents  a variant form once common in areas of open water , or a builder's independent invention cannot be determined at this point . 1
Available sizes
These canoes can be made in lengths from 14' to 20' with beams of 30'' to 34''. The strongly rockered bottom allows for easy turning when paddling , a characteristic that is preferred by some canoeists. The rocker is also desirable in rough water , especially high waves , as the shorter bottom allows the canoe to rock between the waves without shipping water ; the elevated ends also help in keeping water from entering the canoe [ extreme examples of rockered bottoms with elevated ends can be seen in the ' crooked canoes ' of the Montagnais and Cree Indians]. Very little information exists on the decoration of Abnaki canoes , as surviving examples built in the later period are usually undecorated . However , it can be presumed from other implements that have been preserved , that the Abnaki stylistically followed the tradtions of their malecite - penobscot relatives . Thus , the canoe pictured at the top of this page is decorated with the " fiddlehead pattern '' under the gunnels and with the ''doudle-curve'' motif on the bark deck flaps after the fashion of the Malecite.
	Cree Indians and birchbark "'crooked canoe'':Fort George, 1902,courtesy Queen's University Archives
1 During his research work with the Mistassini Cree in the 1970's and 80's, Vaillancourt observed many departures from the norm by individual craftsmen in various aspects of material culture . This was most notable in the area of snowshoe making , which was at the time a very important economic activity in their subsistence hunting culture.  It was not uncommon to find snowshoes that in form and construction departed radically from what was considered to be the ' Mistassini style ' snowshoe. In some cases , this was directly attributable to the influence of other tribal styles due to  trade or familial  connections. In other instances, individual innovation unrestricted by narrow cultural convention seemed to be the main factor .

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email henri5@birchbarkcanoe.net 
phone 603-878-3616

or write Henri Vaillancourt
PO Box 142
Greenville, New Hampshire, 03048