Wood decoys take artistic turn

Oliver Small demonstrates the tradition of making tamarack geese during the Gathering of Our People in Moose Factory.

Tamarack geese were once used as decoys by the cree hunters of the James Bay Lowlands.

August 21, 2008: Volume 35 #17

Migratory flocks of geese (Canadian geese, snow geese, and other waterfowl) have been an extremely important food source and there has long been an interrelationship and mutual respect between them and the Cree people.

Plastic decoys eventually became favorable and threatened the handmade custom’s existence.

Then, in the 1960’s, the tradition was revived when a man named John Blueboy began making miniature tamarack geese to sell as souvenirs.

Today, they are a respected art form unique to Moose Factory and Moosonee and are world renowned for their delicate beauty and workmanship.

These wood sculptures are made from the fragrant tamarack tree.

They are bound with twigs and twine and are shaped into a likeness of the Canada goose.

They come in all different sizes and some are even made with wings.

Oliver Small demonstrated the tradition of making tamarack geese during Moose Cree First Nation’s Gathering of our People.

He has been making them for over 20 years and was taught by Mr. John Blueboy himself.

He, like many other local artisans, would sell his tamarack geese to the steady influx of tourists during the summer season, providing an alternative source of income when he returned from trapping season.

He said he learned by watching, and later passed on the tradition to his family.
He and others were honored at this years Gathering for sharing their traditional knowledge with the youth over the years.