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Michigan Heritage Awards
Arts Nomination Form
Community Leadership Nomination Form
^ MHA Awardees List ^
Ronald J. Paquin
2003 awardee, Sault Ste. Marie (Chippewa County), birch bark canoe maker
Ronald J. Paquin (b. 1942) is a proud member of the Sault Ste. Marie tribe
of Chippewa Indians. Although only in his 50s, he is known as a traditionalist
and preserver of traditional skills. He believes he has a responsibility
to teach others of his tribe about their heritage and he has devoted himself
to teaching family and community members a variety of Ojibwa traditions.
Ron makes birch bark containers, antler and bone carvings, knives, cedar
and deer hide drums, porcupine quill boxes, beadwork, black ash baskets,
fishing nets, and birch bark canoes. He is a storyteller and a fisherman.
Although a master of these Ojibwa traditions, Ron is being recognized for
maintaining and reinforcing the tradition of birch bark canoe making.
Canoes are important to Ojibwa culture and history and Ron is committed
to their perpetuation. Years ago, when Ron first realized he wanted to
make canoes, his uncle deemed it impractical for him to make them because
"tourists weren't interested in buying them." However, as he
watched the masters of this craft die, Ron knew if he didn't learn, there
wouldn't be anyone left to teach subsequent generations. He worked with
family and tribal members to learn carpentry skills and the gathering
and processing of materials, and he talked with elders to "learn
bits and pieces." He also studied older canoes and occasionally he
turned to books. By 2003 he had made some 12 canoes, about one a year.
One canoe was completed with a master artist grant from ArtServe Michigan;
another was made with support from the Michigan Traditional Arts Apprenticeship
Program. Ron often involves community youth and adults in his canoe-making
projects; males do the actual building and women do the sewing. He has
also made canoes in schools with students. Many of his canoes go to tribal
collections in museums in Michigan.
Ron has helped many people in his area gain an appreciation of Native
culture, through projects at the Museum of Ojibwa Culture in St. Ignace,
Michigan, through the tribe, with his activities with students, and by
encouraging other elders to share their skills with young people. His
mastery of canoe making is symbolic of his commitment to his heritage.
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