Bark Trumpet / Moose Call

Art Historical Context

This striking 19th-century instrument, created by a Mi’kmaq artist, exemplifies the resourceful ingenuity of Native American craftsmanship. Made from rolled birch bark secured with cord, the trumpet measures just over twenty inches long and was designed to produce resonant tones through lip vibration. Its dual identity as both a musical aerophone and a moose call highlights how Indigenous communities seamlessly blended practical hunting needs with expressive sound-making traditions. Birch bark, a material long valued by the Mi’kmaq for its flexibility, durability, and natural acoustic propert...