Re: [Paddlewise] Teaching Greenland Inuit to Paddle

In a message dated 10/19/99 11:51:18 AM Central Daylight Time, 
magpi_at_transport.com writes:

The Inuit inhabit an area spanning almost 5,150 k. They have a wider
geographical range than any other aboriginal people, and are the most
sparsely distributed people on earth. There are 8 main separate groups of
Inuit:

Greenland Inuit, on the eastern and western coasts of southern Greenland
Labrador Inuit, occupying the coast from a point opposite Newfoundland to
Hudson Bay, with a few settlements on southern Baffin Island
Central Inuit, in far northern Greenland, Baffin Island and western Hudson
Bay
Banks Island Inuit, on Banks Island, Victoria Island and other large islands
off the central Arctic coast
Western Arctic Inuit or Innuvialuit, along the western Arctic coast of
Canada
Alaskan Inuit and Alaskan Yuit, occupying parts of Arctic Alaska
Siberian Yuit.
<< paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >>

    This brings to mind a question re: the history of the kayak. I recall 
reading that, given the fact that the kayak was developed in both the North 
Atlantic and the North Pacific areas, it was considered remarkable that the 
design was so similar. Could there have been communication spanning such a 
wide area, or did the designs, as we have evidence of them today evolve and 
merge as a result of ceturies of drifting? 
Any guesses as to how long the kayak in some form has been around?  

Curious Dan  
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