Process - The Chief Louie Paddle
Wood
Chief Louie Paddles are all constructed from wood salvaged locally, including "denim" pine from the dead stands of mountain pine beetle timber. Blue pine, or "denim pine" is a result of fungal staining from the mountain pine beetle. All the woods used are not only natural and distinct, but unique to the Cheslatta people and their homeland, all products being fabricated from 100% reclaimed wood and lumber within 100 miles of Cheslatta, British Columbia including their own Cheslatta Community Forest. "Waterwood", submerged pine and spruce that has been salvaged from its watery grave beneath the depths of Ootsa Lake, is found to have exceptional strength. This wood has been preserved within the waters of Ootsa Lake since 1952 when the construction of the Kenney Dam inundated 120,000 acres of prime standing forest within the Cheslatta's traditional territory. The Cheslatta Carrier Nation has an exclusive, long term arrangement to salvage this timber with an estimated volume of 6 million cubic metres!
Production Process
Every paddle is individually hand carved by our master carver, Elder and grandson of Chief Louie, Pat Edmond along with assisting members of the Cheslatta band. From there it goes to the finishing shop to be prepped, sanded, and finished with top quality marine varnish. Every paddle is finished with three coats with individual sanding between each coat.
The Chief Louie Paddle Company logo is engraved on all paddles, and further custom engraving is possible upon special order. Our engraving machine allows us to engrave anything on our paddles, coaster, business cards etc.
The project has excited this small community of 120 people by creating 10 jobs turning a rough paddle blank into a sleek and smooth finished paddle that bears the name of their ancestor. They have honed their production process to where they can make 30 paddles a day. As typical of other Cheslatta businesses, CLPC incorporates the talents of non-Cheslatta Carrier Nation members as well. They utilize the skills of local craftsmen who are equipped to process strips for the lamination process and bandsawing blanks. We have sourced premium aspen, pine, and birch from local "backyard" mills. The stripping and laminating is done by a neighbouring Mennonite craftsman and his family.
