In the early 20th Century mining town of Ely, Minnesota, Joe Seliga taught himself how to build wood and canvas canoes. What began as a life full of curiosity and adventure grew into a passion for the land and its people. Joe held a deep appreciation of wild places, cherished his close-knit family, and found joy in using his hands to create a thing of beauty and utility. Along the way, he forged a tradition of respect and integrity for the wooden canoe: if you take care of it, it will take care of you. And Joe knew that the same could be said of the earth, a good friend and a lot of other things. This biographical picture book celebrates Joe's life with canoes as well as the independent spirit that instilled a tradition of self-reliance in a whole generation of campers across the lake country of northern Minnesota.