Wiigwaasi-makak facts for kids
A wiigwaasi-makak (say "wee-gwaa-see-MAH-kak") is a special box made from birch bark. In the Anishinaabe language, it means "birch-bark box." These boxes are made by sewing pieces of birch bark together using a material called watap.
Making makakoon (the plural of makak) was very important to the Anishinaabe people and other Native American and First Nations groups. They lived near Lake Superior in the Upper Great Lakes region. Even today, people still make birch bark makakoon. They are made as special family items or to sell to visitors.
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Why Birch Bark Was Perfect
The area around Lake Superior doesn't have much clay. This meant it was hard for people to make pottery there. But the paper birch tree grows everywhere in this region! Its bark is strong and papery. People could carefully cut sheets of bark from the trees to use.
Birch bark boxes were key for making strong containers and tools. They were used for storing things and for daily life. When people harvested the bark at the right time of year, it didn't hurt the tree.
How Makakoon Were Used
Well-made makakoon were almost waterproof. This made them great for storing things that could dissolve, like maple sugar. This sugar was used for sweetening food and as a seasoning. People in North America at that time didn't have salt.
Important papers written on birch bark, called wiigwaasabak, were kept safe inside makakoon. Also, people who were part of the Midewiwin (a special Anishinaabe society) often kept their sacred items in a wiigwaasi-makak.
Cooking with Birch Bark
Some very well-made makakoon could even be used for cooking! This became less common after European traders arrived in the 1600s. They brought metal pots and saucepans to sell.
To cook in a makak, people would fill it with water and food. Then, they would carefully hang it over a campfire. They had to hang it just right so the water would get hot enough to boil, but the bark wouldn't catch fire.
Makak Today
Today, Anishinaabe artists sometimes decorate their wiigwaasi-makakoon. They use quills from the porcupine. These sharp quills are dyed different colors or left natural. Artists sew them onto the box to create beautiful designs or pictures.
See also
- Medicine bag
