Building of canoe completed at Amerindian Village

Aug 30, 2008 News

Preparing to carry out a burning process on the canoe

The most popular form of transportation of the Indigenous peoples, especially those from the riverain areas, is that of the canoe.

This mode of transportation plays a significant role in the lives of the Amerindians of Guyana, so much so that it was an item chosen for display at the Amerindian Village set up for Carifesta X at the Exhibition Site, Sophia.

There were some delays in acquiring and transporting the materials to construct the boat, but, finally, the difficulties were overcome.

A round log from a silverballi tree was shipped in from the village of Moraikobai, located ninety miles up the Mahaicony Creek, to the site for the purpose of demonstrating how a canoe is crafted.

Edmond Daniels who hails from Moraikobai, an experienced carver of these types of vessels, came to the Carifesta Village to display his craftsmanship.

The log was hollowed out by the craftsman, using a simple tool called the ‘Aj,’ a pickaxe-like instrument. An ordinary axe, a draw knife and a saw were also used in digging out and shaping the boat.

Although the crafting is done using the bare hands with no sophisticated tools, building the boat is done to extreme precision.

During the process of construction, the craftsman uses his naked eye to measure and check the various dimensions associated with such work.

To ensure homogeneity in the thickness of the bow and other parts of the structure, Daniels rubbed along the sides and bottom with his palms to guarantee levelness.
After the mould was created, it appeared in a crudely folded form.

To unfold the craft to flatten the edges, dry branches were stacked on the sides and inside and set on fire to apply heat to the yet unfinished canoe. The process was carried out in two stages; first the interior, and then the exterior section.

As a result of the heat, expansion occurred and the canoe assumed the desired dimension. After cleaning the craft of the ashes caused by the fire and installing seats, it was ready to sail.

Canoe building has now become a business. The craftsman from Moraikobai says he builds boats for a living. “I charge people from thirty thousand to thirty-five thousand to make a canoe”, he said.
According to the boat builder, a canoe of this type can last for as long as thirty years.

The complete process of canoe building was finally accomplished yesterday afternoon at Sophia. It will be permanently located there.