Wigwam Building with Chuck Commanda

One of 12 grandchildren of Algonquin master canoe builders, William and Mary Commanda, Chuck remembers doing this with his Grandparents, harvesting the bark and building in their yard in Kitigan Zibi. Fast forward 40 plus years and Chuck has built more than 50 canoes along with birch bark baskets and wigwams. All with a little encouragement from his Grandfather William who was the carrier of the sacred wampum belts for Anishnaabe people and often talked about how building with birch bark was part of fulfilling this sacred prophecy, keeping this ancient art alive for future generations.