Playing Dab Iyiyuu: The Sledmaker - Part 2 of 5

Brief Description: Harry and Connie Bearskin live the traditional ways of the James Bay Crees. They have lived off the land all their lives. In this episode Harry makes a traditional toboggan that was used when moving camp or bringing game home. (Excerpt 2 of 5)

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Harry Bearskin: There are rapids near the head of the lake and there are many “Minhiikuch” – White spruce. That’s why it’s called that. If you go further east, you won’t find any.

I’m going to mark where I’m going to bend the boards.

My father taught me how to work this wood for sleds and how to make snowshoes. He said: “A man could make a sled without warming the wood but they didn’t look good when they were finished.”

Now I’ll be able to attach these two together. I learned to make everything by watching my father. I loved watching my father work.

I wasn’t very old maybe 17, when I made my first sleigh. They asked me why I had chopped down a tree. I said I wanted to try and make a sled. If it doesn’t work I can always throw it away.

When I was done, my sled looked good enough to be used. My father was proud and said: “You made a very nice sled. I won’t make one for you next fall.” And from then on, nobody else ever made a sled for me.

I tie these across so the string beneath doesn’t slide out of place. If you don’t smooth this area, the rope will fray and break. You could use the crooked knife to smooth it.

The tool to make these holes was different in the past. Now that I have this tool, things are easier for me. This thread is made from caribou hide. If the string wasn’t in a groove like this, it would wear out. That’s how the Dab Iyiyuu makes it.

Production date: 2005