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Paddle to the Sea

Based on Holling C. Holling's book of the same name, Paddle to the Sea is Bill Mason's film adaptation of the classic tale of an Indigenous boy who sets out to carve a man and a canoe. Calling the man "Paddle to the Sea," he sets his carving down on a frozen stream to await spring’s arrival. The film follows the adventures that befall the canoe on its long odyssey from Lake Superior to the sea.
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Based on Holling C. Holling's book of the same name, Paddle to the Sea is Bill Mason's film adaptation of the classic tale of an Indigenous boy who sets out to carve a man and a canoe. Calling the man "Paddle to the Sea," he sets his carving down on a frozen stream to await spring’s arrival. The film follows the adventures that befall the canoe on its long odyssey from Lake Superior to the sea.

Literature and Language Canada - Images of a Country Geography and Geology All subjects
Kids' Movies All channels
  • director
    Bill Mason
  • photography
    Bill Mason
  • producer
    Julian Biggs
  • associate producer
    Stanley Jackson
  • editing
    Bill Mason
  • commentary
    Stanley Jackson
  • musical score
    Louis Applebaum
  • sound editing
    Don Wellington
  • sound recording
    Ron Alexander
    Roger Lamoureux
  • production assistant
    Blake James

Education

Ages 6 to 11
School subjects
English Language Arts - Children's Stories/Fables Indigenous Studies - Arts
Why did the little boy make Paddle? Discuss the many dangers and adventures that Paddle faced from Nature and "the world of men". Was his journey to the sea successful? Suggest reasons why everyone who found Paddle put him back in the water.

More educational content

Paddle to the Sea
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Home licence (worldwide); Classroom licence (Canada only)

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