Meryl Grandy

The Parkdale Maplewood Community Museum in Nova Scotia has a Mi'kmaq style bark canoe on display.




According to the description, the canoe was made  by  John "Stephen" Rafuse. The exterior of the canoe has painted a deep shade of green, however the interior remains an unpainted. Root lashings aren't visible and there appears to be a green painted inwale so it is likely held together with nails.

Another shot from the Museum's exhibit page shows the same canoe with a fishing net and an accompanying green paddle...

While perusing through some Canadian art books at a local library, I came across this image by an unkown artist documenting the blunted end style bark canoes and paddle decorations of Mi'kmaq indians


"Micmac Indians"
Unknown Artist, circa 1850oil on canvas
45.7 x 61 cm
National Gallery of Canada (no. 6663)


This image was used on an 8 cent Canadian postage stamp back in 1973 as part of Canada Post's "Indians of Canada" series. A closeup of one of the paddles shows a scroll motif decoration reminiscient of the Historic Passamaquoddy I finished a while back. It's a simple design but quite attractive and I may start using more of these motifs with future paddle art.


Paddle Closeup