Canadian Bushcraft

08/15/2026

We hope to see you at the Workshop Stage for 4pm at Peterborough Folkfest, where Caleb will be presenting on the Annual Lifeways of the Anishinaabeg Nation. He will be discussing our relationships with the natural cycle, from a lens of Ethnobotany, History and Bushcraft.

Hope to see some of you there!

07/29/2026

Every year we race to get to the Asasaweminan (Chokecherries) before the birds devour them all. Before modern agriculture industrialized the growing of blueberries, Asasawemin was the majority fruit crop of the northern regions of Turtle Island, and even further south on the Plains.

Asasaweminagaawanzh (Chokecherry Trees) are very sun tolerant, fire hardy, and are resilient to one of the widest varieties of soil conditions for fruit trees. They can start producing fruit as early as 3 years of age, and will produce consistent bumper crops by 7 years of age. Asasaweminagaawanzh has an average lifespan of an individual being 20-30 years. However, with their evolutionary adaptations for being heavily browsed and burned, a root system (arguably the true living entity that is a tree) can live for much much longer, regenerating from the abuses above the surface of the soil again, and again, and again. Anishinaabeg, Lakota, Nehiyuwuk, Innu, Gwich-in, Niitsitapi and many many more peoples of the North and Plains have ancient relationships with this being, providing incredible stockpiles of food for the long, deep winters.

As the risks of wildfire (directly connected to Anthropogenic Climate Change) increases each year, growing trees like Asasaweminanagaawanzh, Bagesaanaatig (American Wild Plum) and Bagaaniminzh (American Hazelnut), that can thrive in an Ecology of Fire, is necessary. Not just for humans, but for the wildlife (birds, mammals, insects and beyond), and the general habitat.

So this year, we selected certain Asasaweminanagaawanzh in our community that had large crops of fruit, but had plenty of neighbours also loaded with fruits. We covered them with special nets that will prevent the birds from eating everything, while still allowing the trees to thrive. This way the birds get fed, but we get some too.

Once the first frost has hit in late summer/early fall, we'll collect the fruits. These we will carefully remove the pits from, shell the seeds out and begin growing as many Asasaweminanagaawanzh as we can for community members. First, for food for the wildlife. Second, for food for their own homes. And finally, to increase the biodiversity of our ecosystems, to make them more resilient to the constantly changing world that we live within.

There are dozens of awesome recipes that we can enjoy with the remaining pulp. But for us it's all about growing as many of these amazing resilient relatives as possible, to spread the wealth throughout our community.

07/15/2026

Filtration
Water must always be treated as suspect. Water Disinfection Tablets (often mistakenly called Water Purification Tablets) are one solution, often best used on viruses in clear water. However, for most other situations, I prefer the convenience of filters. I have used well over 30 makes and models over the last 25 years. Swipe on the photos to see what my opinions are on the 5 systems I use the most.

1. The Plain Jane Rag and Can. The oldest method I've ever used, taught to me by my mentor when I was first heading to the bush alone as a kid. Bring a cookpot/billycan, bandana/rag, and some cord. Drape the cloth over the opening of the pot, and lash it in place. Scoop water from the clearest source you can possibly find, straining out obvious debris with the fabric. Remove the fabric and boil the water. Simple. Can outlast the majority of commercial filters. Definitely does it's job. But now you need to make a fire, and either drink tepid water, or wait a lifetime until it cools down.

2. The Ultralight System. This is a Platypus Quickdraw with 1L reservoir bag (can choose to carry a larger one if you want). This could be a Sawyer Squeeze or Mini, or any filter that can hook up to a 28mm water bottle. This is the method sworn by many a thruhiker and Ultralight backpacker. Other than being kinda fiddly to set up and “push” the water from the reservoir to the bottle, it's really not too difficult, albeit, a bit of a pain in the butt. You need a bottle with a 28mm thread, so Smartwater, or this old Gatorade Water bottle of mine (going on 3 years at least) will do. Do not buy the “Ultralight 28mm Hiking water bottles” from CNOC or Smartbottle. Any “single use” bottle from a convenience store that has a 28mm thread will do, and is not as single use as you think. My Gatorade Bottle has survived many trips (and many falls) over the years and has served me fine. Light? Yes. Fast? Sorta. Dependable? Yeah. Durable? Somewhat.

3. The Gimmicky Grayl. Basically a French Press for swamp water. I am gonna be honest.. I have used this for a while now, and have not been impressed. Pretty sure all of the IG Influencers and YT Creators who swear by these things are either getting paid to, or it is all a conspiracy to gaslight me into liking this thing. Because I do not understand the hype. It is almost as bulky and heavy as my full sized camping filters, and it takes a whole lot more effort to use. Yes. The idea of a water bottle with a built-in water filter is great on paper. But man, this isn't even carrying a full litre of water, and it just isn't that convenient. If you like it, more power to you, and godspeed. But I end up leaving this thing at home, every single time I have the option to take it.

4. The Portable Camping Filter. There are a lot of options for this category, but for the last 13 years, my high-speed-low-drag camping filter has been the MSR Hyperflow. Very light, very fast to fill a litre, reasonably durable, easy to deploy. I have taken this to the Amazon, to the High Desert, to the Rockies, to the Thai rainforest and to the Boreal Backcountry. It is dependable and easy to use. Bulkier than the Ultralight options, but way more comfortable to use, especially on uneven terrain, or when standing in the middle of a jungle river. When Solo, or in small parties hiking over a lot of terrain, I always grab this.

5. The Base Camp Gravity Filter. In this case it's the Platypus GravityWorks, and to be frank, in 15 years I have yet to find a gravity filter that impresses me as much as this one. Easy to use, durable as all Hell, easy to clean, and can give you a gallon of safe good tasting water in a few minutes. The only real downside to it, is the need for head (vertical column height that produces pressure to force the water through the filter). So if you're on flat terrain with no way to elevate the dirty water reservoir, you're gonna have to stand there and hold it a few feet off the ground for a while. Other than that though, it is bulky and heavier than the other options, making it better for group trips, where its capacity will be better appreciated, or in a Base Camp setting, where its size is sort of irrelevant. Beyond that though, the convenience, luxury and ease of use cannot be beat.

04/17/2026

On Saturday June 13th in Hiawatha First Nation, we are holding a Bone Tool Making Workshop. In this class you will learn how to shape bone with no modern tools or equipment, and then how to use said bone tools to make what you need in the woods. Bone (including antler) is one of the easiest natural materials to shape, that can still be used for hard hitting tasks such as wood carving, hunting and more.

Maximum class of 10 seats. Register today by emailing us at [email protected]

01/06/2026

On Saturday January 31st, we are hosting our Intro To Wildlife Tracking Workshop. If you have ever wanted to be able to read the landscape like a newspaper, this class is your gateway to those very skills.

Tracking is Humanity's oldest Science, and is part of the oldest language we ever spoke. This class will help bring you closer to understanding that language. And we get to have one of the best educators of tracking to guide you.

Christina Yu is a phenomenal teacher of tracking skills, and has become one of the highest ranked trackers in Canada. We learn so many things whenever we get the chance to track with her. And on this one-day class, you'll learn an absolute ton.

Class is from 10-5pm, and is $100.00/person. Hot meal and beverages are included. Email us at [email protected] to register today. Spots are limited, so don't wait.

07/06/2025

We have been working with the Rama Land Stewardship Guild since January, focusing on monthly in-person seasonal skills. June's session we focused on uses of tree resins and oils. This video we discuss how to clean spruce gum to use for medicine, glues and other ways, when you have minimal equipment in the field. The Rama Land Stewardship Guild meets once a month, and is free to attend. Register today for our next session, coming up on July 12-13th!

06/26/2025

Our dear friend and longtime accomplice in outdoor shenanigans Mikhail Merkurieff has once again knocked it out of the park with another incredible product. Mikhail is the founder and owner of Merkwares, who has created some fantastic outdoor gear in the past, such as the FireAnt Stove, the Cabuya Fishing Reel, the Sprongs (and innovative fork and spoon set), and his flagship product: the Emberlit Twig Stove.

Over the last several years,We have watched as Mikhail tinkered, tweaked and researched with the desire to create a portable, durable, and smokeless Fire Pit System, and yesterday he finally launched the crowdfunding for this very product. Meet the HearthFire. This system has been rigorously tested in many environments, with a plethora of conditions thrown at it. And now, it's ready for production. So if you want in on the ground floor of such an incredible piece of equipment, click the link below and get yourself a HearthFire! 👇👇👇

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/merkwares/the-emberlit-hearth-fire-smokeless-pack-flat-firepit?fbclid=IwY2xjawLKGQxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHtPvs8JevpCuTikJ015Qs6-_8CaW4bA2n2Iulo6CviNQnjxvVcbMyE7e1ZvH_aem_nf4jkB1nIjDW-sXU-D85TQ

Home is where the hearth is. And now, you can take it with you.

11/18/2024

We've been radio silent on our social media for quite a few months now. This was mainly due to running around like chickens with our heads cut off. Doing everything we could to get ready for the snow. Finishing work on our off-grid home. Gathering Manoomin for reseeding efforts in the northern territory of the Williams Treaties. Getting meat for the Elders and our own freezers. Writing grants. Helping loved ones move across the province. Cutting firewood. Preparing traps for the season. Planting trees. And doing everything in our power to spend time with elders and hearing their stories. With all of that mostly completed, the focus now is on the 2025-2026 seasons of courses, workshops and events. Canadian Bushcraft is planning on a lot more classes for the upcoming year, along with some special expeditions. As well, a couple of very important writing projects that Caleb is hoping to have near completion just before Sugar Bush. As the year begins to close, and everything begins to go to rest, we hope to have the calendar of events out for all of you to check out. We hope you are warm, with full pantries and full hearts. Be safe, and spend time doing what you love, and spending time with your elders and mentors. We love you all.
Oh, also, podcasts are coming back in 2025. That's right.

08/17/2024

We are just over one week away from the Bushwhacker Course. This two day course teaches you how to leave the beaten path, and find your way through the wilderness. Map and compass skills, how to move over terrain where there are no trails, and how to supplement your equipment with the land. This course teaches you how to carve a campsite out of the wilderness, where there are no designated campsites, and how to make it disappear back to the landscape when you walk away, leaving nothing behind to show that you were ever there.

We have a couple of spots left on this course, so if this is something you've been yearning to try, click the link below and register today.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bushwhacker-tickets-858513776817