Chance Encounter
(18" x 24" Unframed Fine Art Giclee Print on White Archival Paper) - can be printed in any size
Copyrights: 1-5288857721/1-6484785666

The Artist's Perspective:

In addition to riding horseback and walking, the transportation system for Native Americans in the 1700s consisted largely of paddling dugout canoes on rivers, lakes and streams. An inevitable element of this highway system that spanned across the landscape was that large raging rivers would eventually empty into lakes, and then the lakes would further be reduced down to small creeks. On some occasions, the small creeks would be reduced down to a trickle or might even disappear completely, leaving the Native Americans with a decision to make. How do the Native American braves transport their canoes to the next river when traveling in the middle of the remote wilderness? This scenario might have inspired the creation of the name "Drags a Canoe".

While traveling down the rivers, lakes and streams, the Native Americans would need to have an intense understanding of where to acquire safe water to drink, as opposed to carrying the water with them for the entire length of their journies.  In the deep woods, the safest place to acquire drinking water was usually from a river with a fast moving current, because the rock and sandstone would act as a natural filter.  Sourcing drinking water from a stagnant body of water was less desirable and even dangerous. Still waters provided a suitable environment for bacteria or fungi to grow, which would most likely result in the development of diseases and illnesses. The Native Americans would closely observe animal behavior to determine what plants were suitable to eat. If the animals ate the plants, then the braves tentatively considered the plant safe to eat. One common plant that was literally everywhere and that was widely considered safe to eat was the common dandelion. The dandelion even sustained Native Americans during droughts, because dandelions could survive in any environment, and it was readily available wherever they traveled.

Eating food was accomplished by hunting wildlife with bows and arrow. These food sources primarily consisted of deer and buffaloes. While hunting and foraging for food, Native Americans expressed devotion for and respect toward the animals, because the animals represented their ancestors. Every part of these animals was utilized to survive. Pioneers traveling through that same wilderness killed many buffalo, but they only consumed the tongue, and threw the rest away. Native Americans were very resourceful because they needed to have various skills to remain alive in the wilderness. They taught each other how to hollow out tree trunks to build canoes, and how to hunt for food utilizing nothing but their tools, experience and knowledge.