Re: [Paddlewise] Who?

Richard Culpeper wrote;

>In your most recent post, you had mentioned that you are presently
studying the
>Resolute Bay kayak culture, and that many years earlier your first
publication
>was "Playing Doctor in Inuit".  I was wondering, have you any theories as
to
>why the the Resolute Bay culture is the only one which routinely included
women
>in paddling groups?  Does this have anything to do with the extremely
short and
>light paddles , or is it more to do with religious beliefs?


Of all Inuit cultural groups the Resolute Bay Inuit rank among the most
advanced regarding their treatment of women. Unlike most regional cultures
that believed a woman to be unclean when menstruating, the Resolute Bay
Inuit men hold them to be sacred.

Recognising the significance of the monthly cycle (and only slightly
misconstruing its usefulness) they drag their women behind their kayaks as
bait for large game fish believing correctly that the blood will draw fish
within range of their harpoons. Elders have commented that the trolling has
a salutary effect on a wife's disposition and PMS is practically unknown in
Resolute Bay. .

Of equal importance to their function in attracting game, the women benefit
from being perceived as active and valuable members of the group rather
than pariahs. There is far less substance abuse among Resolute Bay Inuit
females than in other regions. I believe this is due to the high
self-esteem of the women who see themselves in a positive light within a
patriarchal society.

One can imagine the practice drawbacks of the practice. In the late sixties
a shortage of women led the Inuit to search for replacements. In systematic
trials I observed performed by the Inuit (thus dispelling the belief that
they have no science) they tried various religious missionaries and found
that fundamentalist missionaries make the best bait. Moreover, the churches
that sent them were quick to replace missing ministers assuring a suitable
supply even during peak whale migrations seasons.

Richard mentions the short light paddles used by the Resolute Bay Inuit and
he is on to something important. No other group used such short light
paddles in the upright fashion while sweeping wide away from the boat.
Their skills as paddlers and their unique paddles and style would be far
better known were they from a region more easily accessible to British
anthropologist or BCU instructors. How did these short paddles come into
common usage?

Professor Klohr believes that the paddles had to serve double duty as
initiation rite objects for young Inuit paddlers reaching manhood. Anyone
who has swung a full length Inuit paddle in an Igloo will get the picture.
As logical as this may appear I believe there is a more practical reason.
The short paddle and upright sweeping  stroke that has such remarkable
similarity to the modern sprint racing stroke was produced much more power
than the wide low Greenland stroke. Without this power, the paddler would
not have been able to keep ahead of a fast swimming Baptist Missionary
attempting to climb back aboard the kayak.

I would suggest that the use of the paddle in initiation rites came later.
While the Inuit found religious connections in so many things one suspects
that, in this case, the development was practical.

For those interested in the scientific explanations for the stroke and
paddle's effectiveness, I believe my able assistant has done some important
research on that very topic.

Dr. Peregrine Inverbon, Ph.d., DD, LL.d, Ph.G
Transcribed by his humble servant John Winters

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