Across the vast expanse of northern lands from eastern Siberia to Greenland, Aboriginal peoples created fifty to sixty different models of kayaks. This book treats Canada’s share of this spectrum, which is broken down into three kayak groups: Mackenzie, Central Canadian and East Canadian. This is an initial survey of the history and construction of kayaks in the Canadian Arctic.

Across the vast expanse of northern lands from eastern Siberia to Greenland a great variety of native kayaks were created by the Koryak, Chukchi, Aleut, Yuit and Inuit. Some fifty or sixty different models can be distinguished, and further subvarieties as well, which scholars group into about a dozen major lots or families. Canada's share of this spectrum is the subject of this essay which deals with three kayak groups, labelled for convenience "Mackenzie", "Central Canadian", and "East Canadian". Each is treated mainly in terms of historical records and construction. Variation within each grouping is discussed, but without more study a definitive statement is not possible. This essay is just an initial survey of Canada's kayaks. A score of scale lines drawings, mostly of kayaks in the Canadian Museum of Civilization, are included along with some photographs.

Eastern Arctic Kayaks is the product of years of kayak study by two of the world's experts. Combining analyses of form and function with historical background and illustrations of kayaking techniques, this volume will appeal to recreational kayakers and scholarly readers alike. An excerpt from John Brand's Little Kayak Book series makes this British publication available to American readers for the first time.

The canoe is a symbol unique to Canada. One of the greatest gifts of First Peoples to all those who came after, the canoe is Canada's most powerful icon. Within this Canexus II publication are a collection of essays by paddling enthusiasts and experts. Contributing authors include: Eugene Arima, Shanna Balazs, David Finch, Ralph Frese, Toni Harting, Bob Henderson, Bruce W. Hodgins, Bert Horwood, Gwyneth Hoyle, John Jennings, Timothy Kent, Peter Labor, Adrian Lee, Kenneth R. Lister, Becky Mason, James Raffan, Alister Thomas and Kirk Wipper.

In 1981, Nigel Foster flew to Canada’s Baffin Island to begin a solo kayak trip south toward northern Labrador. After crossing the 40-mile wide Hudson Strait in howling winds and fighting a 10 knot tide race, Foster crash-landed on a small island in the dark. He had frostbitten fingers and was 300 miles from the closest village. With unimaginable good fortune, eight days later he ran across an oil tanker and hitched a ride south. He had survived—marking one of the most notable solo crossings in history—but the failure of the second portion of the trip he had originally planned haunted him. In 2004, Foster returned to northern Labrador with his then girlfriend (now wife) Kristin Nelson. Launching from Kuujjuaq in Northern Quebec, the couple paddled the Ungava Bay coast—which has one of the largest tidal variances in the world—to the place Foster had boarded the oil tanker 23 years earlier. From this remote location, the couple completed the trip to Nain that Foster originally planned for 1981. They encountered more polar bears than people. The story of the two trips forms the backbone for On Polar Tides—Originally self-published as Stepping Stones in 2009—which offers an intimate and insightful view of Ungava and Labrador. The new, revised edition includes gripping recollections of the polar adventures and 54 color photographs.

" ... [This book] leads you step-by-step through the process of creating your own lashed-frame, fabric-covered, custom-fitted Greenland kayak, using inexpensive, easy-to-find materials and common woodworking tools. ..."--Back cover.

The first two papers describe King Island and North Baffin kayaks, their construction and their equipment. Other articles are on kayak design variation, Greenland kayaks, “kayak fear”, Canadian revival and the fascinating Aleut designs. All papers are illustrated and reflect the Canadian Museum of Civilization’s collection.