Renowned Passamaquoddy birch bark canoe builder and basket artist David Moses Bridges will be talking about this traditional work at an upcoming DRA public program, Thursday, October 22 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. A $5.00 donation per person is requested to defray program costs and reservations are appreciated by calling or emailing the DRA.

Bridges, who has been coming to the DRA for about eight years to teach local school children about Wabanaki culture, is offering a program specifically about birch bark in the Wabanaki culture for adults. Bridges is a Passamaquoddy birch bark canoe and basket craftsman and artist. He will be discussing his baskets and traditionally-made birch bark canoe with class participants. The group will also have the opportunity to etch a small piece of birch bark to take home.

Bridges is the First Peoples Fund Community Spirit 2006 Award recipient and member of the Passamaquoddy tribe from Sipayik. He is an artist, birch bark canoe maker, educator, community activist, and co-founder of Mulankeyutmonen Nkihtakmikon (We Take Care of the Homeland), a nonprofit organization committed to protecting and preserving Wabanaki original territories. His birch bark skin canoes are built to match the traditional hull forms developed by his people, the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot and Malecite. He currently serves on the board of the Abby Museum in Bar Harbor.