The first thing that was done was to bless the log. Bob Baker sang a blessing song while the carvers brushed the log with cedar branches that had been picked that morning.

The following are some steps that were taken to do the actual carving:

1. We start by cutting off the sides of the log. In this photograph Mike Billy uses a power saw that had a 3 foot bar. Then the top and the bottom were next cut.

2. The next picture shows a diagram of a piece of string that was tied from end to end along the center of the log to remind the carvers where the center is, this would keep the sides even.

3. We then begin to Measure and shape out the ends bringing them almost to a point.

4. Next we will turn the canoe on to one side to plane it so that it is even all the way across then turn it over to do the same to the other side.

The same will be done to the top and bottom making it even all the way across, not so much the bottom because it will be dug out, but the bottom will have an arch in it that will straighten when the canoe is steamed.

5. We measure then begin to round off the outer bottom of the canoe, using the chainsaw to cut almost to the measurement. Here Janet is using the electric planer to level the edge to the measurement.

6. When the bottom is at a good enough angle we turn the log over to begin to dig out the inside. Here Mike uses a jack to turn the canoe over. We will be using the chainsaw to cut sections it makes it easier to dig it out using the adze. Using a wedge and big axe also make the process very quick; taking out big blocks of wood from the log.

Here Mike uses the adze to dig the canoe.

On one end of the canoe a hole is formed because of the rot inside the log so it will have to be patched.