Sails Project Timeline
Canoe Steaming
September 2020
Tlaa Gaa Aawtlaas, Haida Gwaii
Jaalen Edenshaw steams his first cedar canoe with help of family and community
Pacific Ocean Canoe & Sails
Research Trip
June 2022
Oahu, Hawai’i
Research trip to Oahu, Hawai’i and the Bishop Museum to study canoes, single hull canoes, shapes, materials for canoes, and weavings & materials to make canoe sails
Haida Sails team: Paula Varnell, Evelyn Vanderhoop, Janine Gibbons
Aotearoa Research & Consultation
March 2023
Aotearoa
Traveling to Aotearoa New Zealand to visit the communities of Auckland, Rotorua, and Wellington.
Meeting at Te Puia (Māori Arts & Crafts Institute) to research weaving techniques from Māori master weavers, sails, materials and techniques and viewing of the Pacific Voyageurs exhibition
Haida Sails Team: Paula Varnell, Evelyn Vanderhoop, Janine Gibbons
Lauhala Weaving Conference
& Burke Museum Study
March 2023
Kona, Hawai’i ; Seattle, WA
Visit to the Lauhala weaving conference to meet with Hawaiian weavers. Met with sail weaving expert, Kumu Maulili Dickson. Delores, Paula, Evelyn, and Holly each got to weave 2 miniature sails.
Haida Sails Team: Delores Churchill, Paula Varnell, Evelyn Vanderhoop, Holly Burns
Visit to Burke Museum in Seattle to study and document a sail exhibit and cedar clothing and textiles
Haida Sails Team: Paula Varnell, Evelyn Vanderhoop
Festival of the Pacific
Pacific Ocean Relationship Building
June 2024
Honolulu, Hawai’i ;
Attended the 13th Festival of the Pacific to study full-size woven sails housed at the Bishop Museum learning from cultural practitioners, Yap and Satawal. While here, our team met the Te Rā weavers of Aotearoa, beginning our relationship with the Māori sail weavers.
Haida Sails Team: Delores Churchill, Paula Varnell, Evelyn Vanderhoop, Niisii Guujaaw, Jaalen Edenshaw, Nora-Jane Edenshaw, Haana Edenshaw, Janine Gibbons
Burke Museum
Bill Holm Study Grant
June 2024
Seattle, WA
Received a Bill Holm study grant to visit the Burke Museum and study cedar sails, textiles, clothing, and spruce root lashing. Met with Sven & Robyn from the University of Washington
Haida Sails Team: Delores Churchill, Paula Varnell, Jaalen Edenshaw, Haana Edenshaw, Nora-Jane Edenshaw, Aay Aay Hans, Claudia Bach (Advis Arts)
Canoe & Sail Trial Run
May & June 2024
HlG̱aagilda, Haida Gwaii
First trial runs using a sail on Jaalen’s cedar canoe at Ḵay Llnagaay. This test run allowed us to see how the canoe handled with sails, testing multiple dacron sizes and shapes. We were impressed with how this trial went and are excited by our learnings that we will use to create the woven sail.
Haida Sails Team: Paula Varnell, Jaalen Edenshaw, Gwaai Edenshaw, Staas Guujaaw, Trent Moraes, Danny Robertson, Simon Davies, Kris Olsen, Gaëtan Lamarre
Sail Material Harvesting
May - September 2024
Haida Gwaii
Over the summer our team has been busy harvesting materials we will need to weave the cedar sail. Some of the materials we harvest are: red cedar bark, spruce roots, and nettles. After harvesting, these materials need to be processed and prepared until they are ready for weaving! This is a very timely process and requires extensive cultural knowledge of materials and patience
Big hawaa to everyone who has helped with material harvesting and preparation
Wooden Boat Festival
September 2024
Port Townsend, WA
We attended the Wooden Boat Festival where we were invited to share a presentation on our project, Haida weavings and canoes.
Haida Sails Team: Paula Varnell, Evelyn Vanderhoop, Jaalen Edenshaw, Guujaaw
Sail Making Research Trip
January 2025
Port Townsend, WA
Research and consultation trip for sail project safety with Port Townsend’s most experienced and knowledgable sail makers and rigging experts
This trip was made by possible Dr. Michelle Montgomery and our amazing friends at
the Northwest Maritime Centre
Haawa, Haawa, Haawa!
Haida Sails Team: Paula Varnell, Evelyn Vanderhoop, Jaalen Edenshaw,
Staas Guujaaw, Claudia Bach
