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Published April 11, 2009, 12:00 AM

Photo Gallery: Chippewa sugarbush tradition


Matthew Northrup, 38, of Sawyer tends the fire while boiling maple sap at his father's home in Saywer Wednesday. It takes about 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup. Northrup learned the tradition of the sugarbush from his father Jim Northrup and is helping to take over the duites of making syrup with the family. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)

  • Matthew Northrup, 38, of Sawyer tends the fire while boiling maple sap at his father's home in Saywer Wednesday. It takes about 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup. Northrup learned the tradition of the sugarbush from his father Jim Northrup and is helping to take over the duites of making syrup with the family. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
  • Maple sap drips from a handmade maple tap in the woods near Sawyer on the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation Wednesday afternoon. The Northrup family is collecting sap to make into maple syrup. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
  • Framed by the rolling steam and steel chains rising from the kettle Jim Northrup supervises his sons while they work to make maple sap into maple syrup at Northrup's home near Sawyer on the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation. Northrup is passing the tradition and responsibilities of the sugarbush down to his sons this year. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
  • Aaron Ezigaa Northrup, 18, of Sawyer collects maple sap on the Fond du Lac Reservation near Sawyer Wednesday afternoon. Northrup is learning the tradition of the sugarbush from his father Jim Northrup. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
  • Matt Northrup and Joe Northrup enjoy time around the boiling kettle while boiling sap to make maple syrup during sugarbush season on the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation near Saywer Wednesday afternoon. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
  • Jim Northrup sits in a chair as he supervises while members of his family gather maple sap in the woods near Sawyer on the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
  • Joe Northrup of Sawyer collects maple sap on the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation near Sawyer Wednesday afternoon. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
  • Chris dumps sap into a tub on a sled for easier transportation while collecting the sap in the woods near Sawyer on the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation Wednesday. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
  • Joe Northrup holds a tap made of maple. The Northrup family uses taps made of maple because trees accept the taps easier. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
  • Aaron Northrup (left) grabs a bucket of maple sap from his brother Joe Northrup while loading the sap into a truck. The Northrup family is collecting sap and maintaining the tradition of the sugarbush on the Fond du Lac reservation. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
  • Several pieces of bacon hang over the boil kettle. The fat from the bacon keeps the sap from boiling over. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
  • Maple sap begins to boil as it is heated by a woodfire fueled by maple logs at Jim Northrup's home near Sawyer on the Fond du Lac reservation. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
  • Flames lick around maple logs providing the heat necessary to reduce maple sap into maple syrup. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
  • Surrounded by smoke and steam from the fire and kettle of boiling sap Jim Northrup talks about the sugarbush tradition at his home on the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation near Sawyer(Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)