“Tribal Journey, Part 4: Maori Waka, Dugout Canoe and Birch Bark” SAMAQAN Season 3 Episode 35

The 2012 Tribal Journey brought together the continents and some of the best canoe builders in the world. The west coast paddlers welcomed an eastern Woodlands birch bark canoe and Anishinaabe paddlers from Ontario, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. They also welcomed a Maori canoe family from New Zealand to paddle a unique outrigger canoe created by joining of canoes from two different nations -a Maori Waka (Watercraft) and a Skokomish dugout canoe from the west coast. Anishinaabe canoe builder Wayne Vallier builds the birch bark canoe, explaining the one-year process of harvesting the materials. Birch bark was harvested in the east and shipped; spruce roots to lash the materials together were gathered on the west coast. Master Maori carver Dr. Takirirangi Smith, who had worked with Skokomish artist and carver John Smith in 2007 to build a Maori Waka, returned to paddle it. The two of them lashed together with a west coast dugout canoe built by John Smith to demonstrate sharing and to make a unique ocean outrigger. Ani Oriwia of the Maori canoe family discusses the common experiences shared by the Maori of New Zealand and the First Nations people of North America. Josephine Mandamin arrives with water from her water walk to mix with the west coast water as part of a spiritual ceremony and celebration of the sacredness of water shared by all Nations present. Sharing continued upon landing with the Maori canoe family performing traditional songs and dances in the Protocol Tent.

This documentary from “SAMAQAN: Water Stories” Series 3, looks deeper at water's role in culture, spirituality and life itself for North America's First Nations people.

Directed by: Marianne Jones, Jeff Bear
Produced by: Marianne Jones, Kristy Assu, Jeff Bear