Yew wood

Not many people had the knowledge and skills to make a AIX (good) GELWA (canoe) and in the olden days the GELWA was basically the sole means for transportation, hunting and food-gathering. So a CHEH-SEE-LA-NEEUCH (canoe builder) was an extremely important because of his knowledge in cutting down a large tree, carving and hollowing it into its semi-final shape, and finally steaming the GELWA wider into its finished shape.

A AIX GELWA has compound flares, concavities, and convexities — inside and out. The sides flare up, ending in a smaller flare at the gunnels. The outside of the hull is a convex shape that transforms into a series of concavities to form the stern and bow — in addition the bow has a cut-water flange. All these forms are seamlessly, and aesthetically, integrated in a manner subtle enough not to undermine a GELWA’s ultimate function of cutting through, controlling and deflecting the element of water.

The GELWA ranged in size from small to large. The smaller sizes were used for 1 or 2 people travelling in local waters, while the larger ones were used for longer trips — such as visiting neighbouring villages or on the open ocean.

There were different types of GELWA: ‘LEE-WA-JEE (hunting canoe), WA-WA-‘SEELA-JEE (river canoe), DAH-GWAN (very large canoe used for the open ocean), THLA-LA-KA-PA-JEE (racing canoe), KEE-KA-JA-NAUCH (spoon canoe), and CHAH-JEE (model canoe).

Although there are no full-size examples remaining (only old models), apparently in pre-contact times the GELWA was originally made with its ends shaped differently: longer stern and the bow was basically a large, thin, vertical and flat area — some call this type of early GELWA a “Head canoe” or “Long-Tail” canoe. It is thought that this large, flat, bow-area made this type of GELWA difficult to control in strong winds and tidal currents. So, over time, the GELWA’s shape was refined by cutting away some of the bow and stern to form the classic Pacific Northwest Coast northern-style GELWA that we are familiar with today.

NUGWA (I/me) was always fascinated with the GELWA and this GLUMC (yew wood) bowl is basically a CHAH-JEE of a pre-contact GELWA. The shape lends itself to a PNC formline image — in this case a marine creature. In addition NUGWA carved water being parted to form the GELWA’s wake; implying the CHAH-JEE is moving forward, cutting through the water. This detail comes from my reminiscing of earlier times at C’IMOTSA (KITAMAAT) where NUGWA had the privilege of paddling some GELWA (also used an outboard motor on the “modern” GELWA while fishing and hunting), as well as during my later years when NUGWA was invited to paddle around Vancouver’s False Creek in a newly-made HAIDA GELWA.

Lyle Wilson 2024