Knowledge Transfer and Skills Development

Birch Bark Canoe Build and Apprenticeship Program

In the Fall of 2022, Kouchibouguac National Park supported Mi'gmawe'l Tplu'taqnn Inc. in the construction of a birch bark canoe. Led by canoe builder Elder Hank Caplan, project participants followed the principles of Getuapsultimg and harvested materials from the park (birch bark, spruce roots, spruce gum, and cedar) and worked together to build the canoe during a months-long apprenticeship program designed to encourage the intra and intergenerational transfer of Indigenous Knowledge. Visit the Visitor Information Centre at the Park’s entrance to see the canoe and learn more about the project.

Menpae (“Looking for Spruce Roots”)

The Menpae pilot project was initiated in 2017 with the goal of exercising treaty rights and restoring Indigenous practices to the ecosystem. The project helped facilitate knowledge sharing between Elders and members of Indigenous communities who were interested in learning about and gaining experience in the harvest of spruce roots and birch bark in New Brunswick’s national parks. The pilot project was successful and eventually evolved to become the Getuapsultimg Harvesting Project (Menpae 2.0) which expanded the harvest to include traditional medicines and materials used to make art or other objects that required natural materials, such as birch bark canoe building, wikowoms, sweat lodges, etc.