Photography

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Brent Lodge, 26, of Lynnwood, shows a group from Americorps proper canoe carving technique on the shores of Lake Union. Lodge was helping his uncle Saaduuts Peele teach the short workshop, for which groups come a couple times a week. Peele took two donated logs with defects in them to recycle for a new use. "We are all connected," said Peele. "It's about honoring Mother Earth by using what we have."

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Saaduuts Peele teaches a canoe building class to a group from Americorps on the shores of Lake Union. Peele is a part of the Haida tribe. As participants awkwardly wielded the flat blades to chop away at the wood, he alternated positive encouragement with jokes and jabs like "What are you doing? You're fired!"

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Saaduuts Peele, back, and Brent Lodge paddle a hand-built canoe through the waters of south Lake Union. This canoe was built about nine years ago by a group of third and fourth graders, led by Peele.