Watap facts for kids
Watap is a special kind of thread or cord that was used by Native Americans and First Nations people in North America. They used it to sew together sheets of birchbark, especially to make things like canoes and containers.
This strong cord was usually made from the roots of trees like the white spruce, black spruce, or Northern whitecedar. These trees have roots that are tough enough to be used as thread.
To make watap, people would first remove the bark from the roots. Then, they would soak the roots for a long time and either steam or boil them. This made the roots soft and bendy, perfect for sewing. The roots could be used as whole cords or split into thinner fibers for finer work.
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What Was Watap Used For?
Watap was super important for making many things from birchbark.
Building Canoes
One of the most amazing things made with watap was light, strong canoes. Native Americans in the Great Lakes area were experts at this. They would sew panels of birchbark together with watap. After sewing, they would seal the seams with tree resin to make the canoes almost completely waterproof. Watap was also used to help connect the wooden parts of the canoe frame.
Making Containers and Scrolls
Watap-sewn bark sheets were also used to create containers and tools for storing food and other household items. These containers were sometimes called wiigwaasi-makakoon. The way the watap was stitched often added to the decoration and unique look of each container.
Some groups, like those in the Midewiwin (a special society), used birchbark scrolls to keep records and help them remember important stories or lessons. These scrolls were also sewn together with watap.
Where Did the Word "Watap" Come From?
The word "watap" came into European languages through Canadian French. It originally comes from the Cree word watapiy. The fact that the word "watap" was widely used in Cree shows how important birchbark crafts were to the Cree people. It also shows how common paper birch trees and spruce trees were in their traditional lands. The Anishinaabe peoples also made and used a lot of watap.
Watap in Geography
Some places in North America are named after watap, showing its historical importance.
Watap Lake and Portage
Watap Lake, also known as Watape Lake, and the nearby Watap Portage are key parts of the Grand Portage. This portage was a very important route from Lake Superior into the middle of North America. The lake and portage were so historically significant that the border between Canada and the United States follows their path even today.
Watab River
The Watab River in Stearns County, Minnesota, also played a role in history. In 1825, a treaty called the First Treaty of Prairie du Chien used this river as a boundary. It separated the Dakota peoples from the Ojibwe people.
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