Description
Join us on Thursday, September 22 at 7 p.m. for a fascinating exploration of the work of a celebrated master canoe maker… and enjoy discovering a hand-carved canoe right here at Upstart & Crow.
Tuutahkʷiisnupšiƛ Joe Martin and former museum curator Alan Hoover will discuss the meaning and method behind one of the most vivid and memorable symbols of the Northwest Coast: the dugout canoe.
Joe is a member of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and a fierce advocate for the protection of old-growth forests and wild salmon. In the 1980s he travelled to Europe to campaign to publicise BC’s poor forestry practices, and was a key figure in the protection of Meares Island and the wider effort to stop old-growth logging in Clayoquot Sound. He is a recognized master canoe maker who, as of 2014, estimated he had made more than 60 canoes. In addition to making canoes and mentoring apprentices, he teaches schoolchildren and others about the cultural traditions of the Nuu-chah-nulth peoples.
Joe and Alan will share more about the process, the role and responsibilities of the canoe maker, and describe the meaning behind the 10-foot canoe that will be on display in our space. The teachings Joe received from his father and the expertise he has gained in a lifetime of canoe-making make for an unmissable, intimate event sharing culture and knowledge.
This event takes place on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
About Making A Chaputs: The Teachings and Responsibilities of a Canoe Maker (Royal BC Museum), $24.95
Joe and Alan’s book is a rich visual testament to the practical and cultural power of the dugout canoe, balanced with its descriptions of meaning and method. Both art form and technological marvel, the chaputs carries Indigenous cultural knowledge passed down through generations, not only of the practical forestry and woodworking that shape every canoe, but also of the role and responsibilities of the canoe maker.
The text includes a step-by-step explanation of the canoe-making process from tree selection onward (carefully described and dynamically illustrated), along with the personal histories of a number of Joe’s canoes, encompassing their planning, creation, cultural significance and role in the process of reconciliation. The teachings Joe received from his father and the expertise he has gained in a lifetime of canoe-making are recorded here in his own words for generations to come.
About The Authors
Joe Martin is a member of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and a fierce advocate for the protection of old-growth forests and wild salmon. In the 1980s he travelled to Europe to campaign to publicise BC’s poor forestry practices, and was a key figure in the protection of Meares Island and the wider effort to stop old-growth logging in Clayoquot Sound. He is a recognized master canoe maker who, as of 2014, estimated he had made more than 60 canoes. In addition to making canoes and mentoring apprentices, he teaches schoolchildren and others about the cultural traditions of the Nuu-chah-nulth peoples. In 2013, Joe was one of five Indigenous artists who were awarded the BC Creative Achievement Award. He is also an elected councillor of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation government.
Alan Hoover worked for 33 years at the Royal British Columbia Museum as a curator and manager. He edited the anthology Nuu-chah-nulth Voices, Histories, Objects & Journeys (2000), co-authored with Eugene Arima The Whaling People of the West Coast of Vancouver Island and Cape Flattery (2011) and published a book on canoe racing titled Southern Northwest Coast Indigenous Canoe Racing: A Brief History (2018).
PLEASE NOTE:
Accessibility Information
Upstart & Crow Literary Arts Studio is located on Granville Island, and can be accessed by mobility devices. There is a bathroom in the back room which is available during events, and accommodates mobility devices. Please be COVID-safe; do not attend this or other events if you feel sick, and wear a mask in close proximity.
Please note: There is limited seating at Upstart & Crow. Priority will be given to people who require seats. Please arrive early should you need one. Otherwise, our events are standing.
