Dugout Canoe Workshops in Mid-Klamath Aim to Restore Karuk Canoe Culture
Press release from the Nature Rights Council:
[Photos by Ashley McAllister]
Nature Rights Council, Ancestral Guard, and Seventh Generation Fund are hosting three dugout canoe workshops with support from Native Cultures Fund, Karuk TANF, and members of the Karuk Tribe to revitalize dugout canoe culture in Karuk ancestral lands in the mid and upper Klamath River watersheds. Two of the dugout canoe workshops have already occurred in the downriver communities of Orleans on May 4th, and 5th and Happy Camp on May 11th and 12th. The last of the three-workshop-series will take place Memorial weekend on May 25th and 26th at the Kahtishraam Wellness Center, at 1403 Kahtishraam, Yreka, CA 96097, from 10:00AM- 2:00PM.
The initial log milling, and canoe shaping process takes place at the workshops and several local Karuk woodworkers and artists have taken on the task of completing the shaping and burning of the Orleans canoe at Crispen McAllister’s family home in Ti Bar over the past few weeks. At this time, the log from the first workshop in Orleans has been transformed into the first traditional sugar pine canoe carved by Karuk people that will grace the Upper Klamath for the first time in over 80 years.
Since colonization, the Karuk people have not had dugout canoes nor have they created any. The neighboring Yurok people have dugout canoes that they have been kind enough to lend to Karuk people on occasion. As the largest dam removal and river restoration project is underway on the Klamath River, this project aims to build traditional canoes, while simultaneously teaching the upriver Karuk people how to make dugout canoes again and become part of the healing process from the loss of knowledge and lack of canoes to perform certain parts of ceremonies.
These workshops were a vision of the late Grant Gilkison, a Karuk Tribe member from Orleans, CA who worked with Nature Rights Council to submit the original grant proposal in the Spring of 2020, prior to passing away in August of 2020. One of Gilkison’s sons, (and graduating senior) Te-geen Albers-Gilkison, is co-hosting the events and helping to finish the canoes.
“As we celebrate the monumental removal of Klamath river dams, we are also reminded of the deep connection between our cultural practices and our communities. The canoe carving project embodies more than the revitalization of our ancestral skills, it’s about the restoration of a systematic relationship of reciprocity between our people with the land. Through this project, we are not only strengthening our personal relationships within the basin but also teaching future generations the importance of indigenous led conservation efforts. This is a commitment that all families, regardless of heritage, can value and carry forward.
– Sammy Gensaw III, Program Director for Ancestral Guard
“Bringing the canoe back to the culture and ceremonies will revitalize tribal ceremonial practices that have not been possible in almost 100 years. Canoes (pa’ah) were a symbol of a fully functioning tribal village. For the future of the project, ceremonial villages of Inaam, Katimîin, and Tishaanik each having two canoes; one for large transport purposes and others to bring back the boat dance at all three ceremonial villages will help to restore many of our traditional practices. Looking into the future, we want to see canoes at every inhabited village as well as having a canoe designated for funeral purposes.”
– Crispen McAllister, Program Director for Karuk Restoration Project
WHAT: Dugout Canoe Carving Workshop
WHERE: Kahtishraam Wellness Center: 1403 Kahtishraam, Yreka, CA 96097
WHEN: May 25 and 26 from 10am to 2pm
CONTACTS: Sammy Gensaw, Ancestral Guard: [email protected] 707-954-2486
Crispen McAllister, Karuk Reconstruction Project: [email protected], 530-598-9370
Chris Peters, Seventh Generation Fund: [email protected], 707-502-8055
The initial log milling, and canoe shaping process takes place at the workshops and several local Karuk woodworkers and artists have taken on the task of completing the shaping and burning of the Orleans canoe at Crispen McAllister’s family home in Ti Bar over the past few weeks. At this time, the log from the first workshop in Orleans has been transformed into the first traditional sugar pine canoe carved by Karuk people that will grace the Upper Klamath for the first time in over 80 years. 
These workshops were a vision of the late Grant Gilkison, a Karuk Tribe member from Orleans, CA who worked with Nature Rights Council to submit the original grant proposal in the Spring of 2020, prior to passing away in August of 2020. One of Gilkison’s sons, (and graduating senior) Te-geen Albers-Gilkison, is co-hosting the events and helping to finish the canoes. 
“As we celebrate the monumental removal of Klamath river dams, we are also reminded of the deep connection between our cultural practices and our communities. The canoe carving project embodies more than the revitalization of our ancestral skills, it’s about the restoration of a systematic relationship of reciprocity between our people with the land. Through this project, we are not only strengthening our personal relationships within the basin but also teaching future generations the importance of indigenous led conservation efforts. This is a commitment that all families, regardless of heritage, can value and carry forward.
WHO: 
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Congratulations to the Karuk people and all those that will enjoy these canoes!
I want to do this someday, it is an awesome project. But I need to find a good log
Excellent transportation for the Emerald Triage Breakaway Civilization.
maybe one day all peoples can recreate their idealized lost centuries.
Diaspora
Should be straight forward to do via virtual reality.