Re: [Paddlewise] ACA Greenland certification

At 11:44 AM 7/6/99 -0500, Chuck Holst wrote:
>I'm with John Heath on this one. One of the questions I had when I first
>heard about the proposed ACA Greenland certification was which Greenland
>technique? Another, related, one was who is going to certify the
>certifiers? 

Chuck,

I received the following letter from John Heath who is not currently a
PaddleWise member. John consented to having this letter posted to the list.
I hope that this information will clarify the issues and his concerns.

Greg Stamer 


From: "J Heath" <jdheath_at_fbtc.net>
To: "Greg Stamer" <gstamer_at_magicnet.net>
Subject: Greenland Kayaking Technique
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 1999 00:44:30 -0500

Dear Greg,

There has been some discussion by e-mail recently about the subject of
Greenland Kayaking Skills being certified by the American Canoe Association
or other groups. On page 2 of the Western Michigan Coastal Kayaker for
July-August 1999 is an article by Doug Van Doren, Which announces that the
Nordkapp Trust is offering a certification system in "Inuit Paddling". I
understand that Nigel Dennis, of the Anglesy Sea and Surf Center in Wales,
selected Doug as the initial certifier. The ACA instructor who wants to
become the initial certifier is Ray Killen. This begs the question: what
examination was given to select Doug Van Doren and Ray Killen to have the
authority to evaluate and certify instructors, who would then go forth and
teach other instructors, ad infinitum?

I feel qualified to question these certification programs because I was
present at the first National Meeting of Qaannat Kattuffiat, the Greenland
National Kayak League, in 1985. That was when veteran Greenland seal
catchers bestowed the responsibility of keeping Greenland's kayaking
heritage alive upon Qaannat Kattuffiat. I contacted Kaleraq Bech,
one of the founders of Qaannat Kattuffiat, when I learned of the proposed
United Kingdom and United States activities toward certification. Kaleraq
was outraged that such programs would be considered without the advice and
consent of Qaannat Kattuffiat.

Greenlanders consider their kayaking technique to be part of their
heritage. For outsiders to teach instructors to go forth and certify other
instructors in what Greenlanders regard as part of their culture would be
arrogant and callused. I have asked the ACA committee to delay the
Certification Program until the Greenland National Kayak League has a
chance to respond after their general meeting in August 1999. They will
also need time to translate from Greenlandic into English. Two members of
that committee have favored delaying the certification until Qaannat
Kattuffiat has a chance to respond. I commend these members for helping
avoid what could be an unpleasant international incident. 

In the decade beginning in 1989, I have helped bring five Greenland
kayakers to the U.S.A., including three reigning Greenland national
champions. These kayakers have been well received at exhibitions. One of
them, Maligiaq J. Padilla, is still in the U.S.

As a longtime advocate of recreational kayakers learning traditional
kayaking technique, I hope that more paddlers can do so. There is no need
to mass-produce inadequately trained instructors. That would result in a
flawed program and alienate the very people we need to help train us.

John Heath 


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