Noting the recent comments on Tlingits and their boats, the Tlingit rarely if ever used kayaks. The nearest group that used kayaks were the aleuts of southwest Alaska. Instead the Tlingit carved canoes out of giant cedar trees. Some of these canoes were over 40 feet long. The canoes were quite sea worthy and were among the most prized possessions of a tribal house. Tlingit communities are now rediscovering this important link to there culture and are reviving the art. (and these canoes are a work of art.) Each canoe became a part of the history of the tribe. Cermonies were used to launch a new boat and to mourn the end of a "canoes life". One story of a canoe is particularly meaningful. In 1883 the U.S. Navy bombed the village of Angoon (it's a long story but basically it was about lack of cultural understanding and arrogance on behalf of the navy commander). The bombing destroyed tribal houses and houses that had food stored for winter. Also destroyed were all the canoes except for one that was out of the village at the time. The surviving canoe was the only way the Tlingits of Angoon survived the harsh winter. With it they fished and went to other villages for supplies. Years later the canoe was damaged in a storm. A ceremony was held to mourn the passing of the canoe and the canoe was burned (at this time the Tlingit ceamated their dead) the carved head piece however was saved. Eventually this sacred head piece was stolen and sold. Last year a group from Angoon were invited to a museum in New York to view stored Tlingit artifacts. A friend of mine was walking along the shelves when one of the elders a head of him suddenly shouted. Every one ran to see if he was O.K. He was so excited he could hardly explain what he had found. It was the head piece from the canoe that had saved the village! Arrangements have been made and so it will be returned to Angoon. Last spring here in Sitka a new canoe was launched. It took well over a year to carve and shape out. the crews trained for weeks learning the proper technique. The canoe was launched as a part of a three day ceromony with natives from various natives groups from Alaska and canada. Several of us showed up in our sea-kayaks to "greet" the new canoe as it was launched. We watched elders, who still remembered the old canoes they saw as children, paddle with pride their grand new canoe. A canoe race was held (two other boats from other areas were brought in) The new canoe won the race! (actually the second place boat allowed the new boat the honor of winning...their crew was obviously younger , stronger and more fit than the elders of the new boat. Their allowing the new boat to win was an act of respect for the elders, a lost part of many cultures.) It was a thrill to be a part of this whole event. Bob Sitka *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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