Aboriginal Day celebrations and dugout steaming

Our tight dugout team and their community of supporters put in an incredibly long day to steam the dugout. On top of the pressure associated with steaming, it was Aboriginal Day which brought hundreds of people to the site to watch.

Before the crowds arrived the team started with a ceremony, and throughout the day their dedicated firekeepers Khasha, Michael and Ariel tended to the rocks and fire.

The canoe was partially filled with water, and throughout the day the team cycled heated lava rocks in and out of the boat. The heat builds and over several hours the wood becomes more pliable and the dugout expands wider and changes shape. This canoe was stubborn, and the crew worked longer than expected. Each inch was hard-won.

Master carver Wayne Price called an end to the steaming late in the day, and they have returned the canoe to the tent for a couple more days of shaping and carving.