Anishinabek News

Indigenous carver shares Creator’s gift with learners

Published

7 months ago

May 15, 2023

Indigenous carver Doug Little began carving eagle and other carvings for sale when he was 14-years-old.

By Rick Garrick

FORT WILLIAM — Indigenous carver Doug Little used his carving skills to restore two carved wooden statues on Anemki Wajiw (Mt. McKay) over three months during the summer of 2022.

“Last summer, they brought them down and I restored and put them back up there,” says Little, a resident of Fort William First Nation. “From the neck right down to the base, the middle of the [statute] was rotted out so I cut them right out. I put [a new] piece back in and sanded it, finished it, and painted it and they’re saved.”

Little says he began carving when he was 14-years-old but put it aside when he began working until he started again when he was about 19-years-old.

“I got into this because I wanted our youth to keep this alive and to have stuff around so they remember their identities,” Little says. “That’s the gift I was given to do this from our Creator, so why not pass it on and put it out there? And it’s good therapy for me, too.”

Little says he harvests his own logs and carves with a chisel and a blade knife.

“I use the chainsaw to cut the tree but that’s about it,” Little says. “I also do soapstone carving and antlers and I paint and I’m an all-around artist. Before COVID-19, I was travelling to the northern communities and teaching the young ones how to do traditional pipes because I’m also a Pipe Carrier and a pipe maker.”

Little says he usually puts tobacco down in the forest before selecting a tree for carving.

“I envision the piece in it and I bring it home and I do it,” Little says, noting that he likes to use cedar for carving because it is a softer wood. “I see [the image] in the tree before I cut it out. I do eagles but none of them are the same, I’ll try to find a little different way to put it or sentry eagles or with the wings out or the wings down or one wing up and one wing down.”

Little says the first step is to remove the bark and then let the log dry out.

“I’ll look where I’m going to start, I just put my chisel or my knife into it and that’s where I start and I go from there,” Little says, noting that he usually follows the natural shape of the log. “This was a limb sticking out of [the log] and that’s where I made the head. Same as where the wings went [on this other carving], you can see how it’s indented in, too, so that’s how I made the tail feathers and the wings, I followed the tree itself.”

Little says he sands his carved pieces until they are smooth without any burrs before he stains and finishes them.

“I did a century eagle for Eagle Lake and they wanted to put it in the playground but when I took it there, they said: ‘No, we’re going to put that in the library,” Little says.

Little says he carves a variety of different sizes from two feet to 50 feet in length with prices ranging from $300 to $50,000 per piece depending on what the client wants.

“I try to be creative and do things different, not the same,” Little says.

Little says one of his future goals is to make a playground design for children featuring the seven grandfather teachings.

“The Seven (Grandfather) teachings would be in English and [Anishinaabemowin] so they’re learning a little about the language at the same time,” Little says.

Anishinabek News

Administrative Coordinator

Published

14 hours ago

November 27, 2023

Anishinabek News

Executive Assistant to the Vice-President Academic and Research (VPAR)

Published

14 hours ago

November 27, 2023

Anishinabek News

Mikinakoos Children’s Fund launches $15,000 fundraiser for GivingTuesday

Published

21 hours ago

November 27, 2023

Mikinakoos Children’s Fund aims to raise $15,000 to provide vital winter clothing to 18 First Nations, collaborating with the KO First Nations, Keewaytinook Internet Highschools, and Fort Hope First Nation on GivingTuesday on November 28, 2023. – Photo supplied

THUNDER BAY (November 22, 2023) — Mikinakoos Children’s Fund, an Indigenous children’s charity providing essentials to youth in remote First Nations in Northwestern Ontario, is announcing the launch of a special fundraiser in recognition of GivingTuesday.

In alignment with the global GivingTuesday movement, Mikinakoos Children’s Fund aims to raise $15,000 to provide vital winter clothing to 18 First Nations, collaborating with the KO First Nations, Keewaytinook Internet Highschools, and Fort Hope First Nation. The initiative seeks to purchase over 1,500 coats for children in these regions, ensuring they are equipped to brave the harsh winter months.

“The winter season can be particularly challenging in the remote areas we serve, where many children lack access to proper winter gear,” said Mikinakoos Executive Director Emily Shandruk. “Mikinakoos Children’s Fund believes that every child deserves the warmth of hope during the colder months. With this in mind, we’re launching this crucial campaign to make a positive impact.”

Recent support from TD Canada Trust’s Ready Commitment Funding, a $50,000 grant over two years, is boosting Mikinakoos Children’s Fund’s Warm Clothing initiatives, of which this initiative is a part. With growing requests from various communities and organizations, Mikinakoos’ GivingTuesday funding alone wouldn’t have sufficed. Thanks to the extra support, the charity can now ensure that no child is left without essential resources.

GivingTuesday, which falls on November 28, marks the opening day of the giving season—a global movement encouraging people to come together for a day of generosity and positive change. Mikinakoos invites individuals and organizations alike to join in the effort to make a difference.

Here’s how you can contribute:

Donate: Your contribution, regardless of size, will bring Mikinakoos Children’s Fund closer to its $15,000 goal. Every dollar counts. GivingTuesday falls on November 28; however, this fundraiser will run until December 31.
Spread the Word: Share our campaign on social media, with friends, family, and colleagues. Together, we can make a wider impact.

“The remoteness of the communities we serve presents challenges in shipping and distributing necessities, such as food, sporting equipment, and winter gear, especially with the absence of permanent roads,” said Shandruk. “Climate change has further exacerbated the inconsistency of ice road conditions, making the delivery of essential items even more difficult.”

Please consider contributing to Mikinakoos Children’s Fund’s GivingTuesday campaign through this link or by texting “WARMCOATS” to 807-500-1522. Interviews with spokespeople from Mikinakoos Children’s Fund are available upon request.

About Mikinakoos Children’s Fund

Mikinakoos Children’s Fund is a charity created to address poverty by providing basic amenities, such as food, clothing, and shelter to First Nations children residing in remote communities. Join us on this journey to create positive change and secure the safety and wellbeing First Nations children. Engage with Mikinakoos Children’s Fund on social through #FirstNationKidsFirst.

Contact:

Victoria Belton
Senior Consultant
Media Profile
Tel: 416-992-5179