Curve Lake First Nation craftsman operating a thriving business

By Sam Laskaris

CURVE LAKE FIRST NATION – While he was growing up, John Wager was never quite sure what he wanted to do for a career.

And the Curve Lake First Nation member still wasn’t certain which direction his life would take him even after he enrolled in an outdoor adventure education program at the Sir Sandford Fleming College campus in Lindsay, Ont.

As things turned out, Wager, 27, is now working as a craftsman, and he couldn’t be happier.

Wager said his current career had a somewhat difficult origin.

While he was in college, Wager and his classmates went on a field trip to a wilderness school near Algonquin Park. One of the bush craft activities that students were taught on that venture was how to coal burn a wooden spoon.

Wager found that rather challenging. He decided it would be much easier to create a wooden knife instead.

But the following year, during another school backpacking trip, Wager picked up some wood and ended up producing a spoon. His classmates were rather impressed with his efforts.

Fast forward to today, and that’s how Wager is making a living.

His company, Johns Woodenware, launched in February of 2017, doesn’t just produce wooden spoons. He also makes and sells wooden baskets, knife handles, bowls, cups, and canoe paddles.

He’s even made a two-foot model canoe and he aspires to one day make a full-size one.

“I’m pretty confident I can do that,” he said.

For now, Wager loves the fact he is able to make a living doing something he loves.

“I love working with my hands,” he said. “And I didn’t realize that until that one random course in college [that] changed my life.”

Wager sells his products online through his website at www.johnswoodenware.com

He also spends a good chunk of his time leading carving workshops, to both groups and individuals.

“I feel very fulfilled with my life right now,” he said. “I’m hoping to do this for the rest of my life or until my hands can’t do the work anymore.”

The best-selling items for Wager are his spoons.

“Spoons are like my staple,” he said. “I like to keep my stock up.”

He knew he was onto something even before he had his website and officially launched his business. That’s because he would produce several spoons and his mother would sell them from her food stand, which see would operate at the Curve Lake pow wow.

Wager utilizes various types of wood for the numerous products that he creates. But it’s not as if he’s venturing off into the woods to find wood for his works; he acquires it through a sustainable and environmentally-friendly channel.

“All of the wood I use I get from a tree service,” he said, adding arborists are often looking to get rid of excess wood so they don’t have to dispose of it or chop it up themselves.

Wager either picks up wood that is available or has a friend bring it to him.

“They’re looking to off load it and I get all the wood for free,” he said.