Arts & Cultures Collections Database

S'abadeb-Seattle Art Museum This canoe bears testimony to the skill of John Cheshiahud, canoe maker and carver, a Lakes Duwamish leader and an ally of Chief Seattle. Because of his ties to inland lakes and local pioneers, especially David Denny, he was also known as Lake Union John and Denny John. Today a paved loop around Lake Union in Seattle bears his name.

He was raised along the southern shore of Lake Washington, but was permitted to move into Seattle to work at Denny's sawmill. In 1886, after Chief Seattle died, Cheshiahud homesteaded Denny land on Portage Bay, but in consequence had to renounce any tribal affiliation in a legal declaration that was countersigned by reputable pioneer men.

From these sheltered shores-near what is now the University of Washington-the entire Puget Sound basin was accessible by canoe. Crew and sail races through Portage Bay still follow the route of his canoe. In 1917, the Montlake Cut, just east of his home, and Ballard Locks redirected the entire flow of Lake Washington (formerly Lake Duwamish) toward the west instead of its ancient outlet toward the north.

Cheshiahud raised several sons and daughters, including Julia John Siddle (1866-1950), a famous basket maker at Muckleshoot and Jennie Davis at Suquamish, where he spent his last years. He probably sold this canoe to the University as he left his homestead.