Wobanakiak: The Abenaki People - Canada & USA - History & Culture

The word 'toboggan' itself sleds through history, originating from the Mi'kmaq 'tepaqan' or the Abenaki 'dabogan.' French-Canadian voyageurs adopted the term in the 1600s, and it slid into American English by the 1800s. The sled's distinctive curved hood wasn't just for style; it was a feat of engineering. Craftsmen bent thin boards of birch or larch while the wood was still green or wet, lashing the curve in place until it dried permanently. This simple but ingenious design allowed the toboggan