The well made birchbark canoe, constructed of materials that by themselves possess no great strength, is an extremely durable water craft. Not only was it the most important conveyance for the northern Indians, serving them in hunting, fishing and travel, but it was adopted with little technical change by the white man for exploration in the northern latitudes. In this service it was the most important vehicle in the opening up of Canada. This book places the Algonquin tribe in its context, showing its importance to the early fur trade and to explorations. The gathering and preparation of materials for the canoe is covered, as is the construction process.