The History of the Canoe |
Canoes were developed over the course of thousands of years
by the native peoples of North America. The word 'canoe' originiated
from the word 'kenu' - meaning dugout. These seagoing boats were
used by the Carib Indians of the Caribbean islands, and were
made of large tree trunks which were shaped and hollowed, and
were strong enough to travel between the islands. North American Indians are responsible for creating the more well-known version of the canoe - a frame of wooden ribs covered with the lightweight bark of birch trees, and sometimes elm or cedar trees. These boats, which have remained virtually unchanged in design for thousands of years, proved to be ideal for travelling the numerous streams, rivers and lakes of North America. |
This painting, entitled Shooting The Rapids, shows the birchbark canoe which became popular among fur traders and explorers. Photo from Public Archives of Canada. |
Two Types of Canoes
There are two types of canoes, the K-boat, or kayak, a closed
decked vessel, is generally meant for the use of one person and
is propelled by a single paddle with a blade at either end.
The second type of canoe is the more traditional C-boat, or Canadian.
The C-boat is manufactured from many different materials, ranging
from wood to kevlar. This type of canoe is usually around 17 feet
long, a different weight depending on the material used to build
it, and meant for two people. The canoeists each use a paddle
with a single blade.
The Voyageurs
The history of Canadian wilderness canoeing has a cast of thousands.
To many, Bill Mason rightfully stands as the embodiment of everything
about canoeing. But before Bill was on the scene there was a group
of gentlemen paddlers who were dubbed by the press "The Voyageurs"
after the early fur traders. They began their canoeing exploits
without much fanfare but by the time they were done they had influenced,
directly or indirectly, a whole generation of paddlers.