Photos by Sam Ulroan, and Cultural Heritage

Yellow cedar ribs being placed. They are mortised into the gunwales (apamaq) and set largely by eye. A few clamps and temporary lashings give us a hand. Rib curves were formed by steaming the ribs, pouring hot water over them, then clamping them between the teeth and working in incremental bends. Ribs (cauyaraq) are thinned with a knife in the area of the bend for about a handwidth.