When French traders first saw Ojibwa canoes gliding across Lake Superior in the late sixteenth century they were astounded by boats made of bark, roots and gum that floated and navigated treacherous waters with speed and agility. For generations, Ojibwa master builders refined a lightweight, durable vessel using a cedar or spruce frame covered with gracefully curved birch bark to create a smooth, water resistant hull. These canoes spurred a vast trade network connecting nations across the contin