The Six String Nation Guitar – officially nicknamed Voyageur – is an instrument like no other in the world. It's the story of Canada as you've never held it before.

Conceived in 1995 by Peabody Award winning broadcaster and writer Jowi Taylor, the project took 11 years to bring to life. It was crafted in 2006 in Pinehurst Nova Scotia by renowned luthier George Rizsanyi. Each of the 63 pieces from which the guitar was built – and the additional pieces adorning the case and strap – tells a story: from Pierre Trudeau's canoe paddle to Nancy Greene's ski; from Lucy Maud Montgomery's house to Louis Riel's school, from a Fairmount bagel bakery shibba to Joe Lebobe's championship oyster shucking knife; from the oldest rock in the world to the only piece ever taken from the legendary Golden Spruce of Haida Gwaii; from the shoulder tile of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment to Chris Hadfield's Mission Patch; and many others representing different characters, cultures, communities and events from across Canada.

Voyageur made its public debut in the hands of Stephen Fearing on Canada Day 2006, and has been making its rounds ever since. It has been played by tens of thousands of people – from students and amateurs and campfire hackers to some of Canada's most beloved artists and everyone in between. And it is the common thread running through a collection of portraits of more than 15,000 people in somewhere near 150,000 images – many of which are posted here.

Jowi and Voyageur are available for public presentations at festivals, concerts, conferences, schools and community events.

All portrait photography by Doug Nicholson (except for a small number by Jim Panou.