tluu (Canoe)

The Indigenous people of the Northwest Coast are renowned for their elegant, seagoing dugout canoes. Ranging in length from three to twenty metres, canoes were essential for travel, transport, hunting, and trade. Different coastal communities developed distinctive styles to suit their particular needs.

Commissioned from the artist using funds provided by Expo 86. In October 1984 the completed canoe was ceremonially launched in Vancouver's False Creek. Building this 24' canoe gave Reid the experience needed for he and the other Haida artists to construct a 50' ocean-going version of the canoe in 1986. The canoe is now one of the 'touchable' objects on display in the Museum galleries.

Each canoe is manufactured from a single cedar log, carved and steamed into shape.

Northern style dugout canoe with a high, rectangular shaped prow and stern; prow has deep groove carved in the middle. The outside is painted black and red with Northwest Coast stylized designs; the front depicts a dogfish. A black line runs along the upper edges, connecting the end designs. The rest of the canoe is plain varnished wood. The interior has three rounded bench seats, secured with nails.