Latest news with #CanadianCanoeMuseum
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Qajakkut Society set to return to Canadian Canoe Museum
Original publication date: May 5, 2025 The Qajakkut Society is excited to return to working with the Canadian Canoe Museum this fall as part of its Builders in Residence Program. The museum, located in Peterborough, Ont., is bringing canoe and kayak building to life through its new program. Four expert builders from across Canada will take part in the program, each spending time at the museum to build traditional watercraft while sharing their knowledge through live demonstrations, workshops, and stories. The program gives visitors a rare chance to see a canoe or kayak being built in real time and to meet the people who carry on these important traditions. Members of the society are happy to be working with the museum again and say there'll be a lot of fun during their participation in October. They will build two south Baffin-style qajaq (kayak) frames, a unique design from their home region of southern Baffin Island that isn't widely known outside the North. While many people are familiar with Greenlandic-style kayaks, the south Baffin version is rarely seen, but they're still being made and used today, according to Aasivak Arnaquq-Baril, current president of the society. 'It's good for Canadians or anyone visiting the museum to see that these aren't just historical artifacts,' he said. 'They're embodiments of entire communities.' The Qajakkut Society is a non-profit organization based in Iqaluit. It was founded in 2016 by two passionate builders who wanted to create a space where people could learn about and revive traditional Inuit qajaq building. The group has four core members and about 20 members spread across the territory who are former students or friends of the society. They've been working closely with Elders and youth across Nunavut, running hands-on workshops that pass knowledge from one generation to the next. While some Elders still hold deep knowledge of these skills, much of it was at risk of being lost. This tradition is part of who they are as Inuit, and building these qajaq frames is a way to keep that alive, Arnaquq-Baril says. 'We're just bringing it back, breathing life into it again,' he said. This won't be the first time the society and the museum have teamed up. They worked together on a previous project to build a qajaq frame that's now on display in the new museum building. This time, the society will build inside the museum's state-of-the-art woodshop and lead paddling lessons with the finished qajaq, which will join the museum's on-water program fleet. There may be less need for the qajaq today as many people have access to faster and more efficient ways to travel on water. But it's important to keep something they see as a key part of Inuit culture, Arnaquq-Baril said. 'We choose to hold on to something we see as important to Inuit as a distinct culture, a real, living, breathing nation that still exists,' he said. The society offers two main types of workshops that help keep traditional qajaq-building skills alive. In these workshops, participants can learn how to build their own vessel from start to finish or study and recreate old frames found in the community. They usually have four to six Inuit students in each session. Through these efforts, the society helps connect people to their culture, bring generations together, and keep important traditions alive. The society's work also has personal meaning for Arnaquq-Baril. 'It's great to work with my friends and my family,' he said. The Canadian Canoe Museum reopened its doors beside Little Lake in May 2024. The Builders in Residence Program builds on its commitment to offering hands-on experiences while supporting builders from all backgrounds, including those working to preserve Indigenous knowledge and traditional skills. To reach even more people, the museum will also share short videos online that follow each builder's journey and show how they bring their craft to life. For more information about the program, visit: Or follow on social media: @cndncanoemuseum Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Cision Canada
24-04-2025
- General
- Cision Canada
The Canadian Canoe Museum launches new 'Builders in Residence' Program, welcoming canoe and kayak builders from across Canada
Inspiring new initiative brings expert canoe and kayak builders and makers to the Museum to celebrate craft, culture, and connection PETERBOROUGH, ON, April 24, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Canoe Museum is proud to announce its Builders in Residence Program: a new initiative inviting contemporary builders from across the country to carry out a canoe or kayak build at the Museum. Through demonstrations, clinics, and storytelling, this program offers visitors near and far a rare opportunity to watch a canoe or kayak take shape before their eyes and to meet the experts who make them. The Canadian Canoe Museum opened the doors of its new location in May 2024 along the shores of Little Lake in Peterborough, Ontario. The Museum has seen incredible success since its reopening, welcoming more than 50,000 visitors in less than a year. Visitors from across Canada and beyond have connected with the Museum's watercraft collection, the largest of its kind in the world, through interactive exhibits, outdoor adventures, and unique experiential programming, filling the Museum and its campus with vibrant activity like never before. The programming offered by the Museum weaves together the watercraft collection, which has been recognized as a cultural asset of national significance, with educational initiatives, national outreach, and meaningful work with Indigenous Peoples and people of all backgrounds. The Museum's Builders in Residence Program is one of the many offerings that the Museum is proud to launch. "We are so excited to offer visitors yet another valuable way to connect with the collection and canoe and kayak builders, ensuring these traditions and skills remain vibrant," said Carolyn Hyslop, Executive Director of The Canadian Canoe Museum. "The Builders in Residence Program builds on our commitment to foster collaborative relationships with Indigenous Peoples, amplify diverse and contemporary voices, and create new opportunities for these remarkable people to share and be recognized for their skills and knowledge." In 2025, the Builders in Residence Program will bring four exceptional builders and makers to the Museum's Dalglish Family Living Traditions Centre. Each will bring a unique perspective to their methods—drawing from intergenerational knowledge and accomplished careers. "The Builders in Residence Program is a natural extension of the strong relationships we've built with canoe and kayak builders across the country," said Jeremy Ward, Curator at The Canadian Canoe Museum. "It offers a powerful way to honour the cultural histories and technical achievements held within the collection by bringing them to life through hands-on learning and storytelling." The Museum will also produce a series of mini-documentaries highlighting each builder's process, stories, and approach to their work. These videos will be shared online, allowing enthusiasts worldwide to learn and be inspired by the builders and makers featured in the program. 2025 Builders in Residence line-up: May – Headwaters Canoes (Wakefield, QC) Jamie Bartle of Headwaters Canoes will demonstrate the building of a wood and canvas canoe and provide clinics on the techniques of key construction stages. The completed canoe will be used in the Museum's on-water program fleet. June – Pinock (Kitigan Zibi First Nation, QC) Pinock will construct an Algonquin-style birch bark canoe and assist with the development of a school program related to Algonquin bark canoe construction. July – Helen Pelletier (Fort William First Nation, ON) Artist Helen Pelletier will teach and demonstrate the art of birch bark basket-making, etching, and moccasin-making. October – Qajakkut Society (Iqaluit, NU) Senior members of the Qajakkut Society will build south Baffin-style qajaak (two kayaks) and share their knowledge and paddling skills through lessons and programs. These qajaak will also be used in the Museum's on-water program fleet. The Qajakkut Society's residency is proudly supported by the Dalglish Family Foundation. "Canadians can be proud of their country's rich history of canoe building. Our family is delighted to support the Qajakkut Society as they bring these traditions to life. Their watercraft tell a story and help us understand where we come from and what their use means to our great nation," said Geordie Dalglish, Dalglish Family Foundation. The Dalglish Family Foundation is a transformational supporter of the new museum's ' Inspiring Canada by Canoe ' capital campaign. This Foundation is once again stepping forward to support this signature program. The Canadian Canoe Museum is grateful to the Dalglish Family Foundation for their ongoing support. To see our image library or to find more information on the Builders in Residence Program, visit About the Canadian Canoe Museum ( Located on the Traditional Territory of the Williams Treaties First Nations in Peterborough, Ontario, The Canadian Canoe Museum is home to the world's largest and most significant collection of canoes, kayaks, and paddled watercraft. For over 25 years, the Museum has stewarded more than 650 watercraft, sharing the stories behind this extraordinary collection. Now housed in a stunning new facility along the water's edge at 2077 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough, the Museum offers immersive indoor and outdoor experiences that connect visitors to the land, water, and one another, all through the unique lens of the canoe. Recognized internationally, the Museum has been named one of National Geographic 's Best of the World 2024 cultural destinations and featured alongside its neighbouring attractions on the Trent-Severn Waterway in the New York Times ' "52 Places to Go in 2025".
