Teaching a treasured and ancient craft in birch bark

SPOKANE, WA—The Bark Canoe Store opened in 2000 in Spokane. Originally it began operating by making birch bark canoes and it expanded to provide birch bark for cabinet and furniture and construction. Then it expanded to accessories and things that might go along with birch bark canoes like Hudson Bay axes, packs, materials. Then came delivery of birch bark canoe building classes.

“We are known for taking courses to communities, often First Nation communities,” says John Lindeman, owner. “I wanted the building of birch bark canoes to revive by going to the people who originally built them, star...