The modern qajaq worldwide. Celebrating a cultural tradition, keeping it alive and well.

These toggles are beautiful! Copied from earlier times they reflect the respect for marine mammals all Inuit live with. I see a whale, polar bear, walrus, seal and an otter. They're hand carved of antler by Jon Petersen of Shaman Kayaks.


Harvey Golden is credited with being perhaps the strongest influence in keeping Greenland kayak traditions alive in the US. His recent book is a celebration of this cultural tradition.
Others who are influential in the US are Greg Stamer, Wolfgang, Dubside, Jon Petersen, Cheri Perry and Turner Wilson, master boat builder and teacher Brian Shulz and many others.
For comprehensive information about G style kayaking in the US refer to this page, QajaqUSA.
There are also Qajaq club chapters in many other countries. You'll find their links on the QajaqUSA page. Here's the place to find construction and design plans to make your very own Greenland kayak.
Several instructors offer workshops nationwide, including Oregon's Cape Falcon Kayak owner, Shulz. The closest to me live now live in Maine...the wonderful, the memorable and incredibly talented, Cheri and Turner.
Photos of several of these luminaries follow.

One of the 300 kayaks Shulz has built or helped his students build, below. See Cape Falcon Kayak.

Cheri Perry and Turner Wilson. Together they own Kayakways.

The special clothing they're wearing are called tuiliks. The modern version is made of neoprene, is all one piece and ends in a spray skirt, sealing up the coaming. Filled with air there's no need for a PFD. The kayak and tuilik are their own personal flotation device.
The original Greenland tuiliks were made of sealskin, usually harbor or bearded seals, but occasionally walrus, beluga whale or narwal.

Here's a full length view of Turner's tuilik. He's also displaying the correct way to carry a qajaq, according to one source.

A CFK East Greenland kayak hits the surf.

Jon Petersen of Shaman Kayaks, sponsor of TAKS, Traditional Arctic Kayak Symposium in CA.

This paddler's displaying an Inuit's style of rest. During long hunting trips when it was impossible to land on shore an Inuit might take a break this way. You'd be surprised how comfortable and relaxing this is.

Freya Hoffmeister in her trademark headstand. Visit Freya here.

NEXT: Take a look at my 'random kayak downloads' blog,
right HERE.

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