A revival of the art of traditional boat building is underway in Wrangell. That resurgence is taking place as one man seeks to keep history alive with an old-fashioned technique and rendering to work from.
Josh Lesage, a volunteer on the Chief Shake Island renovation project and native of Canada, is currently building a vessel at the SNO building that will be used by him and his partner, Bianca Martin, when they return to the Yukon later this year.
“I got into boatbuilding out in Whitehorse and I had an interest in making a cedar strip canoe,” Lesage said. “John Martin from the Wrangell Cooperative Association got with me and showed me about this boat design.”
Even though the boat is going back to Canada with the couple, the form used to make it will remain in Wrangell for continued use by those interested in boatbuilding.
Lesage is using a design based on the boats built by the Davis family in Southeast Alaska during the 20th century. The boats, which were made by three generations of the Davis family of Metlakatla from 1900 to 1950, include a number of construction models considered important to the fishing culture of the native Alaskan people.
Martin added that the style of boat being built by Lesage is important to the history of natives in Southeast Alaska.
“The hand troller was the boat of choice for a number of years among the Tlingit,” Martin said. “My grandma had one and used it for years. Hand trolling was a very important option because no permit was needed. All you needed was a row and bait. It was no big investment and she used to go out to Point Baker and spent the season there.”
According to Martin, the boat is going to go away with Lesage – but the tools used to build it will leave behind a legacy.
“I been thinking about this boat for a while and it has been fun to watch it take shape,” Martin said. “You can see the lines of the boat developing and the very best part is that the boat form will stay in Wrangell and both Wayne Price and I will be using it in the future.”
Price, the master carver heading up the Shakes Island Renovation project said he is heartened to see the boat taking shape as well.
“It’s a wonderful wooden ship and great project to be involved with,” Price said.
Price also added that it is encouraging to see a volunteer as young as Lesage taking part in maintaining the culture of the past.
“I think it’s great to see this happening and I would say to others to not wait until you’re old like me to get started on something like this,” Price said.
Lesage said he expects the boat to be completed by early next year.
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