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From: richard <richard_at_saber.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] Greenland ACA endorsement
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 1998 11:56:28 -0800
Julio

I just got off the phone with my friends and ACA instructor trainers at Pacific Currents. They said the 3 instructor trainer educators are at the ACA national conference in Florida right now. This weekend they will decide what the curriculum will be for the instructors who want to receive each of the five endorsements that will be offered Jan 1,1999. One of the endorsements will be for Greenland Style Paddling technique. That's all I have heard at this point. I don't know where or from whom they will be getting their information or training. 

I would like to correct something from your posting: The name of the guy who made the Greenland paddling video is Doug Van Doren (not Van Derek).

I am curious to know how many of us would take a class in Greenland style paddling technique if it were offered here on the West Coast.

Richard M.

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From: Julio MacWilliams <juliom_at_cisco.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Greenland ACA endorsement
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 1998 12:52:37 -0800 (PST)
Yes. And I am extremely enthusiastic and anxious about what may come out of
this weekend's ACA meeting at Florida.

A Greenland endorsement would likely atract the attention of the youth,
as they feel atracted to any sports that is about "tricks". 

It may even atract the attention of the Inuit and Native youth to pursue their
old ways, at least with regards to kayaking, and thus increase their pride,
self steem, ... (endless positive outcome).

Other benefits would include a standard that can be followed by those
who are thinking about offering classes at colleges that would satisfy
both the physical education and ethnic study requirements.

At any rate, the Inuit people might be very happy for the ACA's recongition
of "their ways". That may even lead to a new ecotourism and ethnic oriented
industry that would benefit them much more than their current gambling
business (Which appeared in the last California's ballot. I would love
to see the Alaskan and Inuit Natives do something else).

Am I day-dreaming? Or, did I drink to much coffee? Probably both, but
I just want to share my thoughts to open a new discussion thread. 

On another subject, I want to thank my ACA instructor trainers for
awakening me to the high standards and commitment to education of the ACA.

- Julio

> Julio
> 
> I just got off the phone with my friends and ACA instructor trainers at =
> Pacific Currents. They said the 3 instructor trainer educators are at =
> the ACA national conference in Florida right now. This weekend they will =
> decide what the curriculum will be for the instructors who want to =
> receive each of the five endorsements that will be offered Jan 1,1999. =
> One of the endorsements will be for Greenland Style Paddling technique. =
> That's all I have heard at this point. I don't know where or from whom =
> they will be getting their information or training.=20
> 
> I would like to correct something from your posting: The name of the guy =
> who made the Greenland paddling video is Doug Van Doren (not Van Derek).
> 
> I am curious to know how many of us would take a class in Greenland =
> style paddling technique if it were offered here on the West Coast.
> 
> Richard M.
> 

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From: Greg Stamer <gstamer_at_magicnet.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Greenland ACA endorsement
Date: Fri, 04 Dec 1998 18:31:01 -0500
>Yes. And I am extremely enthusiastic and anxious about what may come out of
>this weekend's ACA meeting at Florida.
SNIP
>It may even atract the attention of the Inuit and Native youth to pursue
their
>old ways, at least with regards to kayaking, and thus increase their pride,
>self steem, ... (endless positive outcome).
SNIP
>At any rate, the Inuit people might be very happy for the ACA's recongition
>of "their ways". That may even lead to a new ecotourism and ethnic oriented
>industry that would benefit them much more than their current gambling
>business (Which appeared in the last California's ballot. I would love
>to see the Alaskan and Inuit Natives do something else).
>

Julio,

Sorry if I misread the intent of your post but this definitely hit a nerve.

The Greenland Kayak Club is growing as is Greenland national pride in
kayaking and other traditions. Ecotourism in Greenland is growing as well.
To assume that the self-esteem of the Greenlanders should somehow be
enhanced simply because the all mighty white-man has chosen to "endorse"
their paddling style is ridiculous and insulting.

This statement is akin to Greg Barton receiving a message from a group of
Greenland elders who say, "we have decided to endorse wing and feathered
paddles. You may now use them with our blessing". 

The ACA needs to craft its Greenland Instructor program very carefully,
with a minimum of dogma and a maximum of respect. 

Greg Stamer
Orlando, Florida

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From: Julio MacWilliams <juliom_at_cisco.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Greenland ACA endorsement
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 1998 17:01:28 -0800 (PST)
Greg,

I agree with you 100%.

But I think that the ACA is not endorsing the Greenlanders; the ACA
would endorse the white folks who choose to teach the Greenland way.
In my case, I am going to pursue the ACA endorsement until I get
the time to go to Greenland and really learn the material first hand.

I was actually thinking about the Alaskans. By endorsing white people
who choose to pursue Native ways, the Alaskans might get the clue
that it is better to do what the Greenlanders do rather than
build casinos (and I am not saying they are about to do that, but
at least the Californian natives have chosen the gambling industry).

However, all my information about the Alaskans comes from third hand.
Maybe you can illuminate me in that area.

Thanks,

- Julio

p.s. I only have 4 out of the 30 rolls, and my forward stroke is
 more similar to what you have described to be Maligiaq's than
 what Van Doren has in his video. I learned from John Heath's videos.

> 
> >Yes. And I am extremely enthusiastic and anxious about what may come out of
> >this weekend's ACA meeting at Florida.
> SNIP
> >It may even atract the attention of the Inuit and Native youth to pursue
> their
> >old ways, at least with regards to kayaking, and thus increase their pride,
> >self steem, ... (endless positive outcome).
> SNIP
> >At any rate, the Inuit people might be very happy for the ACA's recongition
> >of "their ways". That may even lead to a new ecotourism and ethnic oriented
> >industry that would benefit them much more than their current gambling
> >business (Which appeared in the last California's ballot. I would love
> >to see the Alaskan and Inuit Natives do something else).
> >
> 
> Julio,
> 
> Sorry if I misread the intent of your post but this definitely hit a nerve.
> 
> The Greenland Kayak Club is growing as is Greenland national pride in
> kayaking and other traditions. Ecotourism in Greenland is growing as well.
> To assume that the self-esteem of the Greenlanders should somehow be
> enhanced simply because the all mighty white-man has chosen to "endorse"
> their paddling style is ridiculous and insulting.
> 
> This statement is akin to Greg Barton receiving a message from a group of
> Greenland elders who say, "we have decided to endorse wing and feathered
> paddles. You may now use them with our blessing". 
> 
> The ACA needs to craft its Greenland Instructor program very carefully,
> with a minimum of dogma and a maximum of respect. 
> 
> Greg Stamer
> Orlando, Florida
> 
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> 
> 

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From: Greg Stamer <gstamer_at_magicnet.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Greenland ACA endorsement
Date: Fri, 04 Dec 1998 23:59:48 -0500
>I agree with you 100%.
>
>But I think that the ACA is not endorsing the Greenlanders; the ACA
>would endorse the white folks who choose to teach the Greenland way.
>In my case, I am going to pursue the ACA endorsement until I get
>the time to go to Greenland and really learn the material first hand.
SNIP

Julio,

I missed the point of your first post, my apologies. The ACA endorsement
will certainly not cause the Greenlanders to breathe a collective sigh of
relief that they have been blessed, but I wonder how much effect the
endorsement will have on the growth of Greenland paddling in this country.
Are there paddlers who will take it up simply because it will appear more
mainstream? Many Greenland paddlers seem to relish the fact that it is
somewhat different than conventional wisdom. Time will tell.

The good news is that the ACA does seem to be reaching out for input. I was
contacted last week and gave a caution similar to Chuck Holst's, and
provided an overview of what I teach. I don't know who else was contacted.
My initial impression is that the forward stroke and some key techniques
such as bracing, sculling and the balance brace will be emphasized, but
this is pure speculation on my part. I do hope that the ACA will choose to
teach the tenets of both the drag and the lift stroke and allow the
students to make a personal choice as their skills develop. This is
difficult to do in a short introductory class, since usually the students
need help with basic torso rotation and leg resistance, much less get
confused by nuances of paddle angles and lift/drag techniques. This could
be taught in a multiday or true intermediate course.

Good luck in pursuing your dream of traveling to Greenland. Greenland style
paddling is definitely in its infancy in this country and first hand
knowledge is sorely needed. 

Greg Stamer
Orlando, Florida

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From: Scott Ives <ssives_at_erols.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Greenland ACA endorsement
Date: Sat, 05 Dec 1998 00:32:55 -0500
I missed the beginning of this threat, but what's so bad about native
Americans building casinos?  I don't know how bad we whites were to the
Eskimos (I forgot the p.c. term), but we certaintly gave the short end
of the stick to most of the Plains Indians.  I think its great that they
are now getting their revenge and making millions off of our gambling
greed.  After all the native Americans went though, they deserve the
casinos a lot more than the mob does in Las Vegas and Atlantic City!

  By the way, I don't know if Julio was referring to this, but I have a
sneaking fealing that very few Eskimos kayak any more. It is one of
those lost arts that ony us comfortable middle class folks have time to
enjoy.  I bet that many hardworking Eskimos that still fish for a living
use good old motor boats - harldly attractive, but alot more pratical!

  - Scott Ives



Julio MacWilliams wrote:
> 
> Greg,
> 
> I agree with you 100%.
> 
> But I think that the ACA is not endorsing the Greenlanders; the ACA
> would endorse the white folks who choose to teach the Greenland way.
 ... I was actually thinking about the Alaskans.
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