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Paddlers preparing to launch Students enter final stage of kayak-building project
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 24, 2013
PANGNIRTUNG
While most students long for the end of the school year and summer freedom, a few Pangnirtung teenagers stuck around beyond the exam period to finish a special project.
Tim Etuangat, left, Michael H. Davies and Avery Keenainak display their kayaks with the Pangnirtung pass in the background on June 18. - photo courtesy of Michael H. Davies |
Four dedicated students from Attagoyuk High School recently completed two large kayaks with the help of their art teacher, Michael H. Davies, and other members of the community.
Davies, who has been building Greenland kayaks for a few years, said the group spent at least 45 minutes working on the boats each day for the past three weeks.
"We did it during class time but generally we had one or two students stay for one or two hours after school each day to work on them," he said.
"They stayed on their own accord despite finishing their exams last week. There hasn't been too many kayaks built in Pangnirtung in a long time and because there is a kayak-building element in the curriculum, they're getting credit for it."
Initially, the students used what was available in the classroom - pine, in this case - and started with a two-by-eight-foot piece.
Measurements were taken of the students' bodies in order to determine the size of the kayaks. Davies said the boats had to be three times the length of the student's height.
"We have to figure out the balance point before we can start chiseling things out," he said.
The skeletal, wooden frames are both 17 feet long and approximately three feet wide, and 60 pounds lighter than traditional kayaks while retaining their Inuit style.
The students and members of the community made the project as traditional as possible, using power tools only when absolutely necessary.
Seventeen-year-old Tim Etuangat enjoyed taking part in the project, especially measuring and cutting out the rib pieces.
"I've never built a kayak before," he said.
"I thought it was important to participate because it's a part of our knowledge. It wasn't that challenging in the end."
Sixteen-year-old Avery Keenainak said she found it interesting that kayaks hadn't been built in the community for a long time. She jumped at the opportunity when her teacher first proposed it.
"It was great learning how to make them step by step," she said.
"Securing the wood together and tying the knots were really challenging, because there are so many. I thought it was a bit strange at first but became more and more excited as the project went on."
The group had intended on building one more but the climate ruined their plans for making a third one.
The last step involves putting skin on the boats, so the students are taking them home to work on them with their relatives. While they will be using canvas, one student may try hunting a seal and using its skin instead.
Davies said it was important to include a family aspect to the project.
"They can get their grandmother, mother or aunt to help them skin it," he said.
"Two students put in more of the work so they will get to bring the kayaks home and keep them. It's part of a reward system and the other two students graciously agreed to that."
Next year, Davies hopes to bring all four students back to Attagoyuk so they can help him teach the newest crop of Grade 12 students to build kayaks. He'd also like to be more ambitious by building three or four.
"Time is one issue but when there is only one person who has ever built it, it can be slow," he said.
"Next year the graduates can come back into the classroom and teach the next generation. Hopefully it'll give them more confidence."
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