Garth Harrison is an educator who first began working with birchbark as a study into lost or nearly lost Native art forms. He was first introduced to the art of birchbark biting by Sally Milne, an Elder and birchbark artist from Lac La Ronge whom Garth had come to his classroom to demonstrate the art of birchbark “biting”. Garth found that he had the proper bite to perform the art so took it up as a hobby. Over time he was encouraged to explore his ability by friends and Elders within the community he was living. He has now been a birch bark artist for 19 years, and his work can be found in over 30 countries around the world.
Birch bark bitings were first used as patterns for other art forms such as porcupine quill designs on baskets, and beading on coats and moccasins. Though each artist uses different teeth to bite, Garth uses his eye teeth. After folding the thinly peeled birch paper in a certain way he bites patterns into the bark, then unfolds it to expose the design. Each piece is unique in both the design itself and the piece of birch it is bitten into.