The watercraft on display in the Wave Eaters exhibition required conservation treatments before they went on display. These treatments included a condition report, cleaning, and structural repairs to the frame and skin. This was necessary because many of the kayaks in the Canadian Museum of Civilization's reserve collection had suffered from changes in the environment, due to poor environmental conditions in the museum's former storage facilities.

Demonstration of conservation techniques

A kayak is made of a wooden frame over which a skin is stretched. Often, the frame has warped, creating tension in the skin. Because the wood and the skin do not necessarily react in the same way to humidity changes, the skin can tear and the wood can split. To prevent damage while being stored, a kayak needs stable humidity, low even temperature, good support, and a clean storage area.

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