RE: [Paddlewise] ACA Greenland certification

On Thu, 8 Jul 1999, Mattson, Timothy G wrote:
> I don't like the name Free-style 'cause it is devoid of information.
> 
> How about calling the ACA program "Traditional Paddling"?  That way, the
> word Greenland is removed but the idea of paddling using traditional
> techniques is kept.
> 
> --Tim
> 
> P.S. Here comes a politically incorrect statement.  Frankly, I think some
> Greenlanders are being a bit too sensitive.  My roots are in Scandanavia.  I
> can assure you, I am  in no way offended by  courses in "Swedish massage".
> What do those of you from France think of "French Fries"?  Why can't I call
> my foot ball team the "Red skins".    Any of you in Ireland offended by the
> "fighting Irish" of Nortre Dame? I mean, I am not a racist and I believe in
> respecting diversity and all that, but I think sometimes people get a bit
> too worked up over issues of nationality and race.

ok, how about someone who is the "greenland nationa kayak champion" and
observes a "greenland" class being taught in the USA, and doesn't
recognize what's being taught. while his family worries if they can hunt
enough food to get through the winter, people in the US are making enough
money teaching "greenland" paddling to others, to be able to travel around
the country teaching these "skills" --- claiming to be greenland skills.

instructors will sell "greenland" classes, banking heavily on the name to
encourage people to take the classes, but in reality, the skills being
taught may not be anything like what the natives use.

as nick pointed out, the name sells ... people are making money claiming
to teach something they really aren't teaching.

mark

ps .. yes i know "french toast" "french fries" "canadian bacon" "german
chocolate" aren't related to the french or germans either ...
 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:	Nick Schade [SMTP:schade_at_guillemot-kayaks.com]
> > Sent:	Thursday, July 08, 1999 9:09 AM
> > To:	paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> > Subject:	Re: [Paddlewise] ACA Greenland certification
> > 
> > The reason for calling the techniques in question "Greenland" seems
> > primarily to be marketing driven. The idea that you are learning the very
> > same techniques used by the original kayakers has a lot of appeal. The
> > people who want to teach those techniques know that. Classes in
> > "Greenland"
> > technique will sell well. Being certified in Greenland technique gives the
> > impression that you are as good a paddler as an Inuit. If you sell
> > classes,
> > this is good for business. If you are interested in becoming the best
> > paddler you can be, you will want to learn the skills of the Inuits since
> > they originated kayaking, they must be the best.
> > 
> > Now imagine you are a native greenlander and you hear someone is proposing
> > a scheme to make money based on your reputation and they are leaving you
> > completely out of the loop. I think you would feel a little put-out.
> > 
> > Calling the techniques in question "Free Style" would provide all the
> > benefits of a certification process without insulting anyone. However, it
> > would be harder to sell. "Free Style" does not have the impact as
> > "Greenland" so even if the techniques were exactly the same the
> > certification would not sell as well.
> > 
> > Nick
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Nick Schade
> > Guillemot Kayaks
> > 10 Ash Swamp Rd
> > Glastonbury, CT 06033
> > (860) 659-8847
> > 
> > Schade_at_guillemot-kayaks.com
> > http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/
> > 
> > >>>>"It's not just Art, It's a Craft!"<<<<
> > 
> > 
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#------canoeist[at]netbox[dot]com----http://www.diac.com/~zen/mark ----
#
mark zen                      o,    o__              o_/|   o_.
po box 474                   </     [\/              [_|   [_\
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Rocky Mtn Sea Kayak Club, Colorado River Flows, Poudre Paddlers
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