The Art of Birch Bark Biting & Transparencies

Birch Bark Biting is one of the oldest First Nations art forms. It Is done by separating pieces of birch bark and folding it two or more times. You place the bark between your teeth visualizing what you want to create. You begin biting while rotating it with your hand. Originally, birch bark biting was a form of competition to see who would create the most elaborate design. Later they were also used for beadwork and silk embroidery patterns. There are more than 10 stages to complete just one piece.

It has been said that the best designs were used to create the Chief's regalia (elaborate traditional clothing) and that each bite represented a spirit. Birch bark bitings were also used in as part of the construction of certain sacred ceremonial object.

The steps required to complete just one piece is not for the impatient soul:

1. Going on the land and seeking a suitable location where one would hope to find a workable piece of birch bark.
2. Tobacco offering, to show respect and appreciation to the birch trees prior to collecting the bark.
3. Collecting of the bark, true experience is necessary since a good eye and skilled hands are required to make sure that the right type of birch tree is selected and that the piece of bark is free of knots and other markings and of a high enough quality for birch bark bitings, it is not uncommon to be empty handed after seeking quality bark for 6 hours or more.
4. Peeling of the bark, only true experience shines in this stage, a very delicate and tedious process where a skilled hand is required since one has to peel by hand a thin membrane off the collected bark which is as thin as silk paper and one wrong move would simply tear the membrane and ruin the entire process.
5. Trimming, each piece are carefully trimmed since uneven strands do occur during the peeling process.
6. Visualizing, a step that is open to the creator of the biting, traditional patterns and symbols can be thought of as well as stories and dreams, this creative process has no boundaries.
7. Folding, this step requires the folding of the peeled thin membrane prior to the indentation of the visualized patterns. Only a skilled and experienced artist can foresee the pattern and make the necessary folds required to symmetrically create elaborate and beautiful patterns without creating a star like effect from applying to much pressure all along on the fold itself.
8. Biting, this step requires the artist to exert the right amount of pressure using the "eye teeth" and guided solely by the visualized pattern of the artist. Too much pressure would tear the thin membrane of the birch bark and too little pressure would create uneven and faded markings within the folds.
9. Unfolding, another careful step since opening too fast may tear the delicate membrane due to the pressure of the biting process which practically binds the folded membrane together.
10. Burning, Half Moon Woman describes this step as "crazy", since a membrane so thin when exposed to a flame simply wants to ignite spontaneously, only a skilled artist can control the burning of the edges which creates an added depth to the entire birch bark transparency.
11. Wetting, this step is done to help flatten and "even out" the biting from all its previous steps.
12. Flattening, this mysterious step is done to flatten the biting.
13. Signing, every artist's moment of an accomplished work.
14. Protecting, the artist protects the completed piece by placing it in a protecting casing where it is ready to be framed.