John (Winskill) - Is there a way one can find out when John Heath's video of Maligiaq Padilla's rolls will come out - and a way to get in line to purchase a copy? I'd sure like one. - Bill Hansen *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 09:03 PM 7/1/99 EDT, Bhansen97_at_aol.com wrote: >John (Winskill) - Is there a way one can find out when John Heath's video of >Maligiaq Padilla's rolls will come out - and a way to get in line to >purchase a copy? I'd sure like one. - Bill Hansen Bill, I was talking with John Heath tonight. He is currently wrapping up the final details of getting his book published and it should appear in the not-to-distant future. John is lacking some underwater footage for the video and hopes to shoot it before Maligiaq heads back home in the fall. Unfortunately John is spending a tremendous amount of time and worry fighting the ACA in their plans to offer a Greenland-style kayaking instructor certification program. The Greenlanders are very sensitive when it comes to kayaking issues and for fear of exploitation, Maligiaq Padilla was instructed not to "show everything" during his paddling demonstrations on his visit to the United States. According to John, the Greenlanders are outraged at the news of the ACA program and will be meeting to discuss this issue at the Greenland National Kayaking Championships later this year. Unfortunately this will be too late to prevent the program from being enacted. I will admit that I don't understand all the issues involved but kayaking is important to Greenlanders in a way that many Westerners fail to understand and the Greenlanders feel that their culture is being sold by outsiders without their endorsement. I believe that many people involved in the ACA project had good intentions and are genuinely surprised at the controversy. I cannot speak for John, but in the letter that comes with his 1986 videotape he states "My observations in Alaska, Canada, Greenland and the Lower 48 United States are that many native people have been exploited by outsiders. The Inuit of Greenland have good reason to be suspicious of dealing with us, and some of them did not want to so. But they trust me, and I trust you." Perhaps you can argue that no one owns the rights to any kayak skill, but the matter really boils down to respect. Had the Greenlanders been approached and offered their advice and input, perhaps the outcome would have been different. Perhaps the ACA should donate a portion of its take to kayaking and cultural programs in Greenland. At any rate, the Greenlanders and John Heath are extremely opposed to this program (and news about a similar BCU program) and can use your help. What to do. Out of respect for the Greenlanders and John Heath I feel the ACA should hold off on a decision to start certification until the Greenlanders have had time to meet, heads have cooled and the issues have been discussed. In the meantime, please write to the ACA <mailto:acadirect_at_aol.com> and urge that the Greenland kayak instructor certification program be suspended. You can reach John Heath at <mailto:jdheath_at_fbtc.net> Greg Stamer *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I am sure the ACA has no malicious intentions, but I think they could easily back off on describing whatever it is they are certifying: "Greenland". Even among Greenlanders I am sure there is disagreement with regards to what is correct technique. The ACA should be free to "certify" anything they want, but to set themselves up as authorities of what is correct "Greenland" techniques is an insult to anyone who is actually from Greenland. Why not call it something else? I doubt "Silly Little Skinny Paddle Technique" would fly :-), but how about "Freestyle Sea Kayaking". This does not have the authoritative ring that the "Greenland" traditionalist of the US may desire, but it leaves room for growth in the sport. Instead of trying to lock the techniques into some misbegotten idea of how the Greenlanders traditionally paddled, the name "Freestyle Sea Kayaking" would permit innovation in techniques which is probably closer to the Greenland tradition than anything the ACA could reasonably certify. If the goal is to show respect for the traditional kayakers of Greenland, the ACA could not start better than showing respect for the modern kayakers of Greenland by paying attention to their wishes. The people of Greenland do not have a lot. One thing they do have is their tradition. Let them keep it. We have enough here that we do not need appropriate anyone else's traditions. Nick At 1:01 AM -0400 7/2/99, Greg Stamer wrote: >At 09:03 PM 7/1/99 EDT, Bhansen97_at_aol.com wrote: >>John (Winskill) - Is there a way one can find out when John Heath's video of >>Maligiaq Padilla's rolls will come out - and a way to get in line to >>purchase a copy? I'd sure like one. - Bill Hansen > >Bill, > >I was talking with John Heath tonight. He is currently wrapping up the >final details of getting his book published and it should appear in the >not-to-distant future. John is lacking some underwater footage for the >video and hopes to shoot it before Maligiaq heads back home in the fall. > >Unfortunately John is spending a tremendous amount of time and worry >fighting the ACA in their plans to offer a Greenland-style kayaking >instructor certification program. The Greenlanders are very sensitive when >it comes to kayaking issues and for fear of exploitation, Maligiaq Padilla >was instructed not to "show everything" during his paddling demonstrations >on his visit to the United States. According to John, the Greenlanders are >outraged at the news of the ACA program and will be meeting to discuss this >issue at the Greenland National Kayaking Championships later this year. >Unfortunately this will be too late to prevent the program from being >enacted. I will admit that I don't understand all the issues involved but >kayaking is important to Greenlanders in a way that many Westerners fail to >understand and the Greenlanders feel that their culture is being sold by >outsiders without their endorsement. I believe that many people involved in >the ACA project had good intentions and are genuinely surprised at the >controversy. I cannot speak for John, but in the letter that comes with his >1986 videotape he states "My observations in Alaska, Canada, Greenland and >the Lower 48 United States are that many native people have been exploited >by outsiders. The Inuit of Greenland have good reason to be suspicious of >dealing with us, and some of them did not want to so. But they trust me, >and I trust you." > >Perhaps you can argue that no one owns the rights to any kayak skill, but >the matter really boils down to respect. Had the Greenlanders been >approached and offered their advice and input, perhaps the outcome would >have been different. Perhaps the ACA should donate a portion of its take to >kayaking and cultural programs in Greenland. At any rate, the Greenlanders >and John Heath are extremely opposed to this program (and news about a >similar BCU program) and can use your help. > >What to do. Out of respect for the Greenlanders and John Heath I feel the >ACA should hold off on a decision to start certification until the >Greenlanders have had time to meet, heads have cooled and the issues have >been discussed. In the meantime, please write to the ACA ><mailto:acadirect_at_aol.com> and urge that the Greenland kayak instructor >certification program be suspended. You can reach John Heath at ><mailto:jdheath_at_fbtc.net> > >Greg Stamer > > > >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ >*************************************************************************** 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!"<<<< *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Nick Schade wrote: > > I am sure the ACA has no malicious intentions, but I think they could > easily back off on describing whatever it is they are certifying: > "Greenland". Even among Greenlanders I am sure there is disagreement with > regards to what is correct technique. The ACA should be free to "certify" > anything they want, but to set themselves up as authorities of what is > correct "Greenland" techniques is an insult to anyone who is actually from > Greenland. > > Why not call it something else? I doubt "Silly Little Skinny Paddle > Technique" would fly :-), but how about "Freestyle Sea Kayaking". This does > not have the authoritative ring When Folbot came out with its new model of folding single, the Aleut, around 1992 it got some flack from a northern indigineous community, according to Phil Cotton owner of the company. The Aleut, at about 30 inches wide and short and squat, in no way resembled an Aleut traditional kayak. I don't know if the company got any hassle from Greenlanders with its Greenland II double that came out in the around 1990 and had very little "Greenlanderish" about it...it looked like a double Klepper. Nautiraid has a Greenlander model too. It once, in its Mach 1 version, was quite skinny at around 19 inches wide with small cockpit. It is now at Mach III which is 27 inches wide and with a larger cockpit but it still bears the Greenlander name. Dealing with technique that is a strong part of a tradition obviously is even a more sensitive issue and not just because of Greenlanders. Greenland is sexy and various sea kayaking jurisdictions want a stake in it, not just the ACA but also the BCU. Meanwhile, "Euro" seems to have become a derogatory word as in "Oh, you use a Euro paddle." said with great disdain and nose up. The folding kayak realm is much too quiet these days. No one argues about paddling technique for them...there isn't any! You just paddle 'em, period. :-) And even the old aluminum frame vs. wooden frame argument has lost some of its spirit now that both Klepper and Nautiraid, both staunch defenders of wood, have come out with aluminum framed models. ralph diaz ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
How about tacking "-style" on it. Greenland-style paddling, like Kosher-style pickles. The pickles aren't really kosher, and the paddle and gear aren't really from Greenland. Barbara At 10:58 AM 7/2/99 -0700, rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: >Nick Schade wrote: >> >> Why not call it something else? I doubt "Silly Little Skinny Paddle >> Technique" would fly :-), but how about "Freestyle Sea Kayaking". This does >> not have the authoritative ring Sea Kayak Italy http://www.seakayakitaly.com tel. 650-728-8720 fax 650-728-8753 bkossy_at_igc.org *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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